Fire

The following is from the Economic Analysis of the 2006 Wayne National Forest Plan by Greenfire Consulting LLC and commissioned by Heartwood. This study is a valuable resource, and many of the issues pertaining to Ohio's only national forest are relevant to the Daniel Boone National Forest.


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The way funds are appropriated for the National Fire Program provides a very strong incentive for Forest Service managers to burn whether or not the program is effective, and regardless of environmental or health concerns. According to information obtained from the Congressional Research Service and the Thoreau Institute, Congress has basically given the agency a blank check to do prescribed burns. The agency can transfer funds from other programs, especially KV Funds and land acquisition funds, to be used for prescribed burns. When they do this, Congress often reimburses the Forest Service, providing an incentive to the agency to waste tax dollars. After all, what Congressperson wants to be responsible for hazardous fuel buildup? The National Fire Program has given the Forest Service a new mission after the decline of the booming commercial timber sale program of the 90s.

Why is the Forest Service suddenly so eager to burn tens of thousands of acres on the WNF? 

Again, the answer lies in the incentives and opportunities provided by congressional appropriations. The Forest Service gladly goes along, because increased funding means more jobs and more income for the Forest Service.