Fire & Our Forests

Fire is deemed an essential part of most forested ecosystems.

Fire rejuvenates forests.  It recycles forest nutrients, deters unwanted harmful weeds and thins out thickets of trees.

Fire creates standing dead trees essential for woodpeckers and the insects they eat and encourages the growth of native plants.  Fire was the forest management tool of choice for Native Americans for 10,000 years.  Frequent burning kept wildlife and the forests they lived in healthy and sustainable.

We should try learning to live with and manage fire rather than trying to fight it since firefighting can be as destructive to the environment as the fire itself.

Fire retardant that gets dropped by bombers is toxic to fish if it reaches streams or lakes.  The Clean Water Act requires the Forest Service to get a permit before it dumps fire retardant into a stream. The Endangered Species Act requires the Forest Service to evaluate the effects fire retardant in streams will have on threatened fish.

Some retardants include cyanide which is added to prevent corrosion of bomber tanks.  Cyanide adds to the retardant’s toxicity.  Then the bulldozers that are used to clear fire trails disturb the soil and increase erosion.

Record wildfire seasons in recent years have destroyed millions of trees in forests around the country.  There are many areas that have been burned so severely that replanting is necessary.

You can help.  When you give or send Seed-the-Future Tree Cards you’ll be helping to restore America’s forests, creating wildlife habitat, reducing global warming and ensuring a healthier planet.