California Senator Padilla Among Authors Of New Forest Conservation Bill
The following is courtesy of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership:
New legislation seeks to accelerate forest management and restoration, improve wildfire resilience, and enhance collaboration and innovative management strategies.
Today, the bipartisan Fix our Forests Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Sheehy (R-Mont.), Curtis (R-Utah), Padilla (D-Calif.) and Hickenlooper (D-Colo.). A similar version of the bill passed through the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year with broad bipartisan support. The legislation introduced in the Senate would direct federal agencies to develop new and innovative technologies?to address forest health threats, suppress and manage fire more efficiently, and increase the pace and scale of restoration across our forests and watersheds. In addition, the bill would make communities more resilient to wildfire?by establishing a Community Risk Reduction Program and improving existing grant programs while also furthering new research.?
“The declining health of our National Forests and the fish and wildlife habitat that they provide is a concern for America’s hunters and anglers,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP applauds the leadership of Senators Curtis, Sheehy, Hickenlooper, and Padilla for introducing the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act in the Senate and urges Congress to advance these important forest management provisions and to accompany them with adequate resources and capacity to carry out on-the-ground work.”
In 2024 alone, wildlifes caused more than 8.9 million acres to be burned across the country. The Fix Our Forests Act seeks to provide more arrows in the quiver to help take aim at this challenge through a multitude of solutions. One such policy solution, included in the bill and led by TRCP, would formally recognize the wildfire risk reduction benefits associated with restoration of riparian and wetland habitat, the first such recognition in federal statute.?Other provisions of the Fix Our Forests Act will help TRCP partners and other land managers increase forest health and resilience to benefit water resources, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation and the local communities that depend on them.?
“The Fix Our Forests Act streamlines collaboration between the National Wild Turkey Federation, the USDA Forest Service, and other partners, cutting red tape to accelerate urgent forest restoration and management on federal lands,” said Matt Lindler, NWTF Director of Government Affairs. “This bill ensures we can better manage and conserve vital natural resources for wildlife, hunters and anglers. We are grateful to see the Senate introduce this critical piece of legislation and await the signature from the president.” ??
“The health of our nation’s forests is dependent on the rivers, streams, and wetlands that sustain them. Actively conserving and restoring these critical aquatic resources is an important tool that can be used to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and drought, among other threats,” said Alicia Marrs, director of western water for the National Wildlife Federation. “We’re encouraged to see language in the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act that recognizes the wildfire benefits of aquatic restoration. We look forward to continuing to work with leaders from both sides of the aisle to elevate these common sense and cost-effective approaches to forest and water management for all Americans.”
