Restoring California’s forests to reduce wildfire risks will take time, billions of dollars and a broad commitment

A great article on reducing the risk of high-severity wildfires by Martha Conklin Professor of Engineering, University of California, Merced and Chronicles Group Advisory Board member Roger Bales, Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Merced.
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As California contends with its worst wildfire season in history, it’s more evident than ever that land management practices in the state’s forested mountains need major changes.
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Many of California’s 33 million acres of forests face widespread threats stemming from past management choices. Today the U.S. Forest Service estimates that of the 20 million acres it manages in California, 6-9 million acres need to be restored.

Forest restoration basically means removing the less fire-resistant smaller trees and returning to a forest with larger trees that are widely spaced. These stewardship projects require partnerships across the many interests who benefit from healthy forests, to help bring innovative financing to this huge challenge.

Read the full story here