We need your help today!  In June 2006, the Warm Fire burned approximately 60,000 acres of pinon-juniper woodlands, ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer forests on the Kaibab Plateau, near the Grand Canyon’s north rim.  Kaibab National Forest managers are now determining post-fire rehabilitation priorities for a significant portion of the burn area.

Stating a need to:  “recover economic value from burned timber,” “reforest burned conifer stands,” and “break up fuel continuity in the burn area,” the Forest Service proposes to salvage log approximately 10,000 acres, and reforest nearly 15,000 acres.

The Grand Canyon Trust is very concerned about this proposal for several reasons. 

•      Scientific literature has shown that salvage logging, in many cases, causes widespread environmental harm, including: increased soil erosion, diminished wildlife habitat (especially by removing burned “snags” that provide important habitat for cavity-nesting birds), and disruption of natural forest regeneration processes. 

•      Salvage logging may encourage the invasion of cheatgrass in some logged areas that will be disturbed by heavy equipment. Cheatgrass is a highly flammable, non-native grass that seriously degrades wildlife habitat.

•      The potential ecological benefits of salvage logging in the Southwest are dubious and extremely difficult to substantiate within the scientific literature.

•      In many cases salvage logging costs more than the revenue produced by selling the burned timber, requiring a substantial subsidy paid for by taxpayers.  Our forests would benefit more if we invested in comprehensive, long-term forest restoration, and the development of sustainable, community-based businesses that use the by-products from such restoration.

We strongly believe that well-considered, science-based, post-fire rehabilitation should occur.  We support activities initially identified as potential priorities by the Forest Service such as re-seeding with native species, replanting in areas with scarce natural seed sources, erosion control, archaeological site protection, and limited hazardous tree removal along existing roadways that would also break up fuel continuity across the burned area. 

Instead of simply reacting to an event such as the Warm Fire, the Trust envisions a program of pro-active fire management and restoration that prepares the Kaibab Plateau for the reintroduction of natural fire over the coming decades. We look forward to helping the Forest Service accomplish this work but we can’t do it without your help

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PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW!

We strongly encourage you to voice your opinions about this proposal by emailing, faxing, or writing the Forest Service.  They are accepting comments on their proposed action through Jan. 26th.

Comments can be emailed to “Warm Fire Recovery Project” at mailroom_r3_kaibab@fs.fed.us

Faxed to: (928) 643-8105

Mailed to:  North Kaibab Ranger District
                   Post Office Box 248
                   Fredonia, Arizona 86022

The Forest Service will also be convening two meetings to solicit feedback from the public.

Meeting Times: February 8, 7-9pm at Flagstaff High School

                         February 9, 2-4pm at Grand Staircase-Escalante N.M. visitor center

                         in Kanab, Utah 

We look forward to seeing you at one of these meetings!

If you have questions or comments about this issue, please contact Ethan Aumack at the Grand Canyon Trust (928-774-7488), or by email at eaumack@grandcanyontrust.org