Why are the land management agencies paying more attention to reducing hazardous fuels?
Reducing hazardous fuels on public land is not new. Federal land management agencies have been conducting this type of work for almost four decades. In fact, land management agencies have already started projects on some of the areas listed in the Federal Register notice based on previously identified needs to reduce hazardous fuels. What’s different about this effort is that because of the severity of the wildfires in 2000, agencies are intensifying their efforts by starting more projects and working more closely with other federal agencies, tribal and state governments, and local communities. Also, more funding has been provided by Congress for hazardous fuels treatments than in the past, allowing agencies to accomplish more of this necessary work.
