The Bush Healthy Forest plan calls for thinning our national forests. Supposedly this will protect them from future forest fires.

However, thinning itself is irrelevant. Where is it mentioned that forest fire prevention requires removing the debris that kindles and fuels the fire? Where is it mentioned that clean forests are less vulnerable to fire?

We all know what Bush’s Healthy Forest plan means. It means giving away mature trees from our national forests to logging corporations. Mature trees will not kindle a fire, but the slash from logging, left to dry on the unprotected forest floor, along with the accumulated residue, will kindle fire. Excessive and careless logging is at the heart of the most destructive forest fires.

An honest, healthy forest plan would take the millions spent on controlling future fires and invest in preventing fires by removing the fuel, not the forest canopy. It’s common sense; unfortunately, not a characteristic of corrupt politicians.

Gordon Hammond

Westfield