HomeMy WebLinkAbout011326 email - Forest managementALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Good morning Heather, Greg and Heidi
I'm following up on a question from our discussion yesterday afternoon. The comment was that once forested parcels are cut, they require selective thinning for long-term management.
FYI, here are relevant quotes with references on this subject as it relates to established forests, forest carbon management and wildfire:
· Broad-scale thinning to reduce wildfire severity results in more carbon emissions than would be released by fire, creating a multi-decade carbon deficit that conflicts with climate
goals. Wildfires have relatively little impact on forest carbon stocks as fires mainly combust surface litter and duff, and if there is tree mortality the deadwood takes decades to
centuries to decompose. Thinning to reduce fire severity or intensity is usually 30-50% of live tree biomass, and it puts much of the harvested carbon into the atmosphere quickly.
(Statement of Dr. Beverly Law before Congress <https://www.congress.gov/117/meeting/house/112540/witnesses/HHRG-117-II10-Wstate-LawB-20210429.pdf> , 2021)
· Removing trees can alter a forest’s microclimate, and can often increase fire intensity. (Scientists Letter to Congress <https://johnmuirproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/ScientistLette
rOpposingLoggingProvisionsInBBB_BIF4Nov21.pdf> , 2021)
Both of these references (with links) are full of forest management info and are not that long to read.
Thank you for all you do.
- Cyndy Bratz, Jefferson County resident