Tahoe Forests Matter group wants support of Firewise and not thinning projects

It was a busy week for Tahoe Forests Matter, attending several local agency meetings via Zoom or in person. The following statement was issued through public comment at the El Dorado County Supervisors and South Lake Tahoe City Council Meetings on 9/26 and at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Board Meeting on 9/27. A similar statement was made on 9/21 at the Skyland neighborhood meeting regarding the upcoming “fuel break” project in that area.

Our comments at the meetings:

I am here today not only as a 20-year resident, but on behalf of Tahoe Forests Matter, Eco-Integrity Alliance, John Muir Project, and Feather River Action to speak with you regarding the numerous commercial logging projects in and around the Tahoe Basin. I would first like to state our collective objection to these 'thinnings', 'fuel reduction and fuel breaks,' and supposed 'forest health' projects, as well as their partner projects – a new sawmill and proposed biomass facilities.

Despite a growing consensus – including among U.S. Forest Service ecologists and agency-funded peer-reviewed studies – showing that these projects harm forest resilience to fire and climate, contribute to tree mortality, and are actually increasing fire dangers, we saw them grow exponentially this summer. Even post-fire areas are vital habitats and as witnessed most recently in Hawaii, NO amount of logging will prevent wind and climate-driven embers from reaching our communities. Yet almost all local, state, and federal resources are directed toward these timber projects, while almost nothing is being spent on community-wide Firewise programs – programs that are proven in practice.

We are hoping to gain this council’s/board’s commitment that local funds be used solely for true Firewise policies, instead of projects harmful to our forested areas. Harmful to habitat, local and US climate goals, and to our tourism-based economy. You should have a copy of our flier, and we would love support for us to come back at a later date for a full presentation on these important, complex issues.

Firewise practices – buried utilities, metal roofing, home-out defensible space, higher pay for local departments, smoke centers, improved evacuation routes – even the Forest Service and our insurance companies agree that these are the only ways to protect life and property during extreme fire events. We hope this council/board will work with us to achieve Firewise communities across the fire-prone West, saving lives and bringing an end to misguided and destructive commercial logging of public lands.

This important initial statement was met with a positive response from multiple community members, and several local leaders have already expressed a desire to learn more. We appreciate the opportunity to share our statement and look forward to further collaboration with all partners. Working together we can achieve Firewise communities for all, without destroying the natural areas we all value.

We are just getting started! Numerous ongoing projects are in continuous development for the Tahoe Basin and beyond. In the face of almost certainly larger, climate-driven fires in our future, now is our only chance to secure the policies and funding necessary to create truly fire-protected and defensible communities, while also protecting forest habitat being logged at unprecedented rates around the globe. Check out https://tahoeforestsmatter.wordpress.com/ to take action today!

Melissa Soderston – Tahoe Forests Matter