Bureau of Land Management’s Post

Have you noticed more smokey days in the Pacific Northwest compared to prior decades? You're not just imagining things. The average acres burned by wildfire in Washington state has increased nearly five-fold since the 1990s, and the state's wildfire season has grown longer, more intense, and more destructive. Unfortunately, research indicates these trends will continue for decades if we do not take committed action. Yet we have tools at our fingertips to improve forest health outcomes. Active forest management, which can include activities such as thinning, timber harvest, prescribed fire, and understory removal, can promote forest health and resiliency and reduce the risk of forest losses!

🌲 Friday's forest fact: 🌲 Did you know that wildfire damages cost the U.S. $394 billion to $893 billion a year? A 2023 analysis by Congress' joint Economic Committee found this after analyzing the economic impact wildfire damages have on real estate values, property, watersheds, timber insurers and more.  Overgrown forests are partly to blame for the severity and rapid spread of wildfires and thus for the extent of damages incurred. However, Vibrant Planet's tool Landtender enables decision-makers at every level to assess and address, in near-real-time, the wildfire risk factors such as overgrown forests.  Want to learn more? Then check out: https://lnkd.in/ewksr7C4 Stay tuned for next Friday's Forest Fact! 

🌿**The Midge Invasion: Key Insights for Pest Control in Homes and Businesses** 🌿 The recent news from Scotland highlights an early midge hatch, thriving due to warm and wet conditions—a scenario representative of broader climate-induced pest patterns. Dr. Alison Blackwell forecasts an unprecedented early main hatch by mid-May, emphasizing the urgent need for efficient pest control strategies. This scenario is a crucial reminder for the Flyscreen industry about the importance of proactive measures. Here's what you need to know: 1. **Seasonal Shifts:** Climate change is causing earlier and more frequent pest outbreaks. Businesses and homes must adapt to these new timelines. 2. **Economic Impact:** With the Scottish tourism industry losing £286 million annually to midges, investing in effective flyscreens becomes essential for economic resilience. 3. **Predictive Models:** Leveraging tools like the Scottish Midge Forecast team's modeling can guide preventative measures and enhance pest management strategies. The implications are clear—investing in high-quality, adaptable flyscreens is not just about comfort, but economic and environmental sustainability. How is your business preparing for these changes? Share your thoughts! Visit us at: https://screendoor.company #PestControl #ClimateChange #FlyscreenSolutions #IndustryTrends #EcoFriendly (link)

As wildfires continue to pose significant threats to our communities and natural landscapes, it’s important to adopt effective forest management practices. Recent research by Kimberley T. Davis and colleagues has provided valuable insights into how we can mitigate wildfire severity through mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, and pile burning. Key Findings: 1. Mechanical Thinning + Prescribed Burning: Reduces wildfire severity by 62% to 72%. 2. Prescribed Burning Alone: Effective in reducing fire intensity. 3. Mechanical Thinning Alone: Less effective, highlighting the importance of burning residual fuels. Regular Maintenance: Treatments are most effective within 10 years; beyond that, their effectiveness diminishes as vegetation regrows. Why It Matters: Low to moderate intensity fires are essential for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. They help clear excess vegetation, recycle nutrients, and promote new growth, reducing the risk of severe wildfires. This proactive approach not only protects our forests but also enhances community safety. Implementing Effective Practices: Mechanical Thinning & Pile Burning: Removes ladder fuels and debris, creating fire-resistant forests. Prescribed Burning: Restores natural fire regimes and enhances forest resilience. Data-Driven Approaches: Using data to inform our forest management strategies is important. By understanding the science behind these practices, we can make informed decisions that protect both our natural landscapes and our communities. Check out my blog post https://wix.to/yTt6sfB #newblogpost

Thanks to Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities for the share: Forest Bridges Responds to the BLM's draft RMP-EIS for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (Forest Bridges) As the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) considers public comments to finalize its draft Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS) for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Forest Bridges: The O&C Forest Habitat Project (Forest Bridges) is urging the land management agency to choose a more intensive #activemanagement alternative over its current “moderate level” preferred alternative. According to Denise Barrett, Forest Bridges’ Executive Director: “The BLM’s proposed 100-year timeline and conservative thinning and #prescribedfire treatments for the Monument are, in Forest Bridges’ studied opinion, insufficient in pace, scope and extent to mitigate for the unprecedented wildfire, drought and disease threats this biological wonder faces. We feel it is a moral imperative to urgently address these threats--in the right measure--to ensure the Monument is properly restored and sustained for future generations.” Read our Proposal in its entirety at the link below:

Forest management is all about making sure our forests stay healthy and continue to thrive. It requires intention, planning and work – like deciding which trees to cut down and which ones to leave, protecting forests from fires, diseases and pests, and planting new trees to replace harvested or lost trees. #workingforests

Many forests in the western US are what is known as “fire adapted,” in that they evolved in the context of periodic low-intensity fires—so much so that fire is central to the reproductive cycle of some tree species. However, although foresters have come to recognize the role of fire in forest health, applying “controlled burns” as a tool for forest management has proven difficult in practice. This has led to some uncertainty as to the degree to which periodic, small-scale burns limit the likelihood of large, all-consuming conflagrations. A recent study of California forest fires since 2000 has shown that low-intensity fires reduced the probability of subsequent high-intensity fires by more than half. Even so, cultural pressures to stop fires often drive forest management decisions. Restoring historical (low-intensity) fire regimes will require close collaboration, appropriate levels of funding, and political courage. #controlledburns https://ow.ly/gLXf50QjQks

Freeze Watch issued November 23 at 11:07AM PST until November 30 at 8:00AM PST by NWS Hanford CA Los Banos - Dos Palos; Merced - Madera - Mendota; Planada - Le Grand - Snelling; West Side of Fresno and Kings Counties; Caruthers - San Joaquin - Selma; Buttonwillow - Lost Hills - I5; Delano-Wasco-Shafter; Hanford - Corcoran - Lemoore; Visalia - Porterville - Reedley; Southeast San Joaquin Valley; Indian Wells Valley; Mojave Desert * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 29 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley and lower 20's in the Kern County desert. * WHERE...The Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley, as well as the Kern County desert areas. * WHEN...From late Friday night through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.

🔥 To burn or not to burn? In this new feature, Andreas Heinemeyer offers insights on a recent POST, UK Parliament briefing which discussed UK wildfire threats. An expert on peatland health and management at SEI York, Andreas was both an interviewee and reviewer for the document. Andreas stressed that policymakers must consider all modes of vegetation management for peatlands, including controlled burns. Available evidence indicates that using prescribed fire alongside other techniques for vegetation management could help to prevent the intense damage wrought by wildfires on these vital carbon stores. Read the analysis 👉 https://buff.ly/3UNLpsQ #Wildfire #Peatlands #Heather #Moorland #Policy #LandManagement #Habitats

Wetlands serve as vital water supply for its surrounding vegetation. The greens in turn prevent erosion to protect the wetlands. Our progress is connected to the progress of others. https://lnkd.in/dvHBFP_P