From the monthly archives: July 2023

Tribal Burning and Fire Suppression

On July 25, 2023 By

The media and many others, including conservation groups, suggest the cause of today’s wildfires is the result of fire suppression. They point to the cessation of Native American cultural burning as a primary reason for larger blazes. This has led to expensive and often ecologically destructive forest management policies.

A Charles M. […]

Continue Reading →

Media Distortions On Wildfire Ecology And Prescribed/Cultural Burning

On July 19, 2023 By

One commonly asserted myth is that frequent burning can substantially reduce the area burned by wildfire across the landscape. Photo George Wuerthner 

Poorly informed journalists flood the public with misinformation about wildfire ecology. The common theme insinuates that we can and should manage nature.

I am sympathetic to the plight of journalists […]

Continue Reading →

Create A Greater Yellowstone National Park

On July 10, 2023 By

Old Faithful erupting, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Photo George Wuerthner 

I just saw the movie Wild Life about Doug and Kris Thompkins’s efforts to protect wildlands in Patagonia.

Doug and Kris Tompkins at Renihue Chile. Photo George Wuerthner 

I am very familiar with that effort as I worked […]

Continue Reading →

Community Hardening Instead of Logging the Forest

On July 6, 2023 By

Thinning the forest is often less effective than eliminating human sources of ignition. Photo George Wuerthner 

The Deschutes National Forest wildfire policies are misdirected towards logging while ignoring the real threats that could lead to blazes on Bend’s doorstep.

Anyone driving around the national forest near Bend will note the abundance of […]

Continue Reading →

Senator Heinrich Will Not Reintroduce Grazing Permit Buyout Legislation

On July 3, 2023 By

Livestock grazing negatively impacts more public lands in the West than any other industry. Photo George Wuerhner 

Legislation that would have given the federal government authority to close grazing privileges on public lands was recently withdrawn.

Grazing permit buyouts allow the federal government to close public lands to future livestock grazing permanently.

[…]

Continue Reading →

Missing the Mark–A New Wildfire Report by Headwaters Economics

On July 2, 2023 By

The burnt-out Safeway Store in Paradise, California. Even a big parking lot with no fuel could not prevent the loss of this structure due to wind-blown embers. Photo George Wuerthner 

A new report from Headwaters Economics titled: “Missing the Mark: Effectiveness and Funding in Community Wildfire Risk Reduction” misses the mark […]

Continue Reading →

Calendar

July 2023
S M T W T F S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  

Quote

‎"At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, “thus far and no further.” If we do not, we shall later feel, instead of pride, the regret of Thoreau, that good but overly-bookish man, who wrote, near the end of his life, “If I repent of anything it is likely to be my good behaviour."

~ Edward Abbey