Courtesy/The Forest Advocate
By SARAH HYDEN
The Forest Advocate
The Santa Fe Mountains Landscape Resiliency Project Decision is about to be reinitiated, with no changes from the previous draft Project Decision.
This project is highly controversial, and has become even more so since the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, caused by two escaped prescribed burns.
The Forest Service plans to thin up to 18,000 acres of our local Santa Fe National Forest, and burn up to 38,000 acres. Past thinning treatments have been very aggressive, and together with likely too-frequent prescribed burns, have caused much ongoing ecological damage to our forest. The increasing amounts of prescribed burn smoke have become a substantial public health concern.
Given the Forest Service’s pause in finalizing the Santa Fe Mountains Project Decision, the events leading to the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, and the overall interest/concern in wildfire management in the mountains out of Santa Fe and throughout the Santa Fe National Forest, members of the public are seeking opportunities for a broader dialogue and input related to these issues.
The Santa Fe County Commission, WildEarth Guardians and The Forest Advocate are inviting the public to a Zoom community listening session 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 10. Forest Service leadership and elected representatives will be attending, along with others involved in the development of the project. County Commissioner Anna Hansen will be hosting the meeting. Members of the public will have the opportunity to speak to officials, as stakeholders of the Santa Fe National Forest.
Also, respected conservation scientist Dr. Dominick DellaSala will be giving a short talk on ecological concerns related to this project, and will be available to answer any questions during the public dialogue.
The Zoom link for the meeting will is posted at santafecountynm.gov. Click on the link at the top of the home page.
Come voice your perspectives and ask questions regarding forest management and fire ecology in our local Santa Fe Mountains, and in particular relating to the Forest Service’s Santa Fe Mountains Project, with a focus on finding solutions and new approaches. Santa Fe National Forest leadership, members of the Santa Fe Fireshed Coalition, and elected representatives will be present to hear you speak for our forest and our communities.
Sponsors: The Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners, WildEarth Guardians, and The Forest Advocate
Host: Santa Fe County Commissioner Anna Hansen
Featured speaker: Dr. Dominick DellaSala, conservation scientist
