Let loggers help overgrowth

Thu., Sept. 27, 2018

In early September, more than 124,780 acres of the 9.6 million acres of federal lands are burning in Washington state. These fires are not natural fires that burn only undergrowth, but environmental disasters burning valuable timber, wildlife (think spotted owls), and destroying habitat. The entire state is enshrouded with smoke from multiple surrounding sources.

It is imperative that H.R. 2936, “The Resilient Federal Forest Act of 2017,” be moved out of committee and passed by the Senate so we can begin to correct the problem of overgrowth in our federal forests. Nature Conservancy recognizes the urgency of this problem, as do many people who are suffering from the consequences of the fires.

If you are tired of breathing smoke, please join me in writing Sen. Murray and Sen. Cantwell to promote federal forest management. Let the loggers in!

Ritajane Boyce

Spokane Valley

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