Restoring forests and reducing fire danger in the Intermountain West with thinning and fire

January 14, 2000

Much of the forest landscape in the Intermountain West has been transformed. Beginning with livestock grazing in the second half of the 19th century and continuing with decades of logging, road-building and fire exclusion through the 20th century, these changes have degraded watersheds and habitat for fish and wildlife. These altered forests also respond very differently to fire, sometimes to the further detriment of fish, wildlife, and watersheds, as well as endangering the lives and property of people who have chosen to live within and adjacent to forest lands.

While these problems can appear daunting, methods to address many of them are being developed and refined. Unfortunately, progress lags behind potential for a host of reasons including institutional inertia, commercial pressures, inter-agency conflicts, budgetary limitations, lack of political will, and the aesthetic preferences of individual landowners. Ecological problems are pervasive, and in one sense restorative actions taken almost anywhere would provide some benefit. In light of the risk of loss of populations and species of fish and wildlife, the needs of local human communities, and limited resources available for restoration efforts, what is needed are strategically focused, integrated approaches that will get maximum benefits for a given cost while minimizing unintended adverse effects. Focusing treatments in high priority areas while integrating aquatic, terrestrial, and socio-economic considerations should increase the probability of success of restoring healthy landscapes.

Neither haste nor hesitation is acceptable. Millions of acres in the Intermountain West could use some form of treatment (including simple rest from past and ongoing abuses) if we are to avoid unacceptable effects on wildlife, fish, and human communities. Problems 150 years in the making will take many decades to correct. The needs are great and our knowledge is adequate to begin, but the gaps in our knowledge are so substantial that these tasks must be approached with humility and a commitment to learn from both our successes and mistakes.