President Biden Signs Executive Order to Strengthen America’s Forests, Boost Wildfire Resilience, and Combat Global Deforestation
APRIL 22, 2022•STATEMENTS AND RELEASES
New actions will protect against wildfire threats, support local economies, and reduce climate pollution
Today, on Earth Day, President Biden will sign an Executive Order to expand his Administration’s historic and bold efforts to tackle the climate crisis, make our nation more resilient to extreme weather, and strengthen local economies. The President will sign the Executive Order in Seattle, Washington—rounding out a trip across the West focused on lowering costs for families and protecting communities from intensifying climate impacts. Wildfires and extreme weather events are growing in frequency and ferocity, engulfing communities in the West and across the country and costing lives, homes, and money. Because President Biden knows the cost of inaction is too great, he is taking bold executive action and reaffirming his calls on Congress to address the climate crisis.
America’s forests are a key climate solution, absorbing carbon dioxide equivalent to more than 10% of U.S. annual greenhouse gas emissions. Federal lands are home to many of the nation’s mature and old-growth forests, which serve as critical carbon sinks, cherished landscapes, and unique habitats. However, these magnificent ecosystems are threatened by the climate impacts that are already here, with intensifying wildfires demanding urgent action to protect our forests and the economies that depend on them. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides historic wildfire resilience funding and calls for prioritizing the restoration of old-growth forests.
See this link for the rest of the press release (thank you, Ian) /https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/04/22/fact-sheet-president-biden-signs-executive-order-to-strengthen-americas-forests-boost-wildfire-resilience-and-combat-global-deforestation/
We can always hope that those that make our policies will recognize that one three-month wildfire will create more greenhouse emissions than 8 million cars in a year. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/it-s-alarming-wildfire-emissions-grow-to-triple-b-c-s-annual-carbon-footprint-1.4259306
“We can always hope that those that make our policies will recognize that one three-month wildfire will create more greenhouse emissions than 8 million cars in a year.”
NOTES:
“Old growth” consists of trees that didn’t burn.
“Thinning” is a euphemism for logging. Taking out big trees and leaving smaller ones to burn, has it backwards. Note that logging and most thinning is not done near habitations, highways, and other public places, but just far enough back so the damage is not visible. Have a gander at some satellite photos.
“Controlled” burning, even if it actually remains controlled, is no cure-all, and not applicable to all biomes and vegetation types. Regrowth is rapid and favors ignition and fire spread.
“Mastication” leaves chips of just the right size for an ember-storm.
Any kind of soil disturbance produces more flammable fuels.
W