President Biden’s nominee to oversee the 193 million-acre national forest system said on Thursday that he would focus on wildfire management and prevention and on eradicating racial and sexual discrimination at the Forest Service. “If confirmed, I will be the person responsible for providing leadership to ensure that everyone is treated fairly,” said Homer Wilkes, a 41-year USDA employee.
“We do need additional resources” at the Forest Service, which has been stretched thin by combating wildfires and managing woodlands for healthy trees and to reduce the risk of fires, said Wilkes, nominated to be agriculture undersecretary for natural resources, during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture Committee. “We’re facing steep challenges when it comes to wildfire management and prevention.”
During questioning by Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow, Wilkes did not say how much additional funding was needed. “I would like to work with the committee to make sure that the Forest Service does have those resources,” he said. “There was a time when we had a fire season, but now it’s more or less a fire year. So we’re constantly working on trying to suppress those fires, do all we can to protect those communities.”
Wildfires have burned 1.9 million acres so far this year. Wind-driven flames destroyed much of the Gold Rush town of Greenville in Northern California last night. “We really want to lift up those folks in our prayers,” said Wilkes
The Forest Service has struggled for years with complaints of sexual harassment among its 30,000 employees. The agency is the USDA’s largest in terms of employment. Two years ago, the Forest Service said it would tighten its procedures after an inspector general’s report found lax enforcement of rules against misconduct.
“I pledge not to tolerate discrimination in any form within the U.S. Forest Service,” said Wilkes, who is Black. “If you are a bad actor, then there are some consequences.”
Wilkes often used the words “collaboration” and “communication” in describing how the Forest Service should work with state and local foresters and the private sector to manage forestland. “I’m big on collaboration,” he told Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, the senior Republican on the committee. “I see government as a catalyst, but it’s those folks in the countryside that really get it done, and we have to involve them.” He told another senator, “You won’t have any problem with me getting out on the ground.”
This is the second time Wilkes has been nominated for the USDA post. President Obama tapped him for undersecretary in 2009, but he withdrew from consideration so his teenage sons could complete high school in Mississippi, where Wilkes was USDA state conservationist. At present, he is director of an ecosystem restoration team that is part of the recovery effort for the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
To watch a video of the hearing or to read Wilkes’ written testimony, click here.