Democrats Propose Major Spending Plan to Protect California Forests
Democrats are proposing a $27 billion influx of funding into our forests, seeking to invest in wildfire prevention strategies and protect fire prone states from the devastating effects of climate change. An additional $2 billion will go to directly to local governments and support community-based forest restoration and resilience projects.
According to Cal Fire statistics, 1 in 8 acres in California burned over the last decade. The federal government owns over half the forest land in the state, and has a responsibility to soundly invest in California’s future. Channelling funds from fire suppression to fire prevention would save the government $48,500 per acre. This is a win win spending plan that, if passed, will protect California’s forests for generations to come!
Ethan Swope for Associated Press
By Jennifer Haberkorn, LA Times | 12/6/2021