The two largest public-lands agencies in the United States, the Interior and Agriculture departments, “signed a memorandum emphasizing cooperation among federal, state, tribal and local agencies in battling wildfires as the main part of the wildfire season arrives,” said The Associated Press. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed the memorandum following a briefing at the interagency fire command center in Boise, Idaho.
“The agreement doesn’t announce any major changes in firefighting strategy for this year’s wildfire season that both secretaries said will be challenging,” said AP. “As in past wildfire seasons, firefighting resources will be deployed based on human safety, what is being protected and the costs of protection.”
Idaho officials are enthusiastic about a Republican-led administration, “with many expecting significant changes in the future to land management practices having to do with wildfire prevention,” said the wire service.
Perdue said in an essay in the Idaho Statesman that it was time to review Forest Service management of public land to ensure there will be “balance in how our forests are managed. The ideal management of our public lands would be through shared stewardship, meaning federal agencies would communicate, collaborate and coordinate with state and local governments and with citizens on how best to manage our public lands.”
To read the essay, click here.