[20050114]RS22024_第108届国会的野火保护.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS22024January 14, 2005Wildfire Protection in the 108th Congressnae redactedSpecialist in Natural Resources PolicyResources, Science, and Industry DivisionSummaryMany argue that the threat of severe wildfires has grown in recent years, becauseof excessive forest fuels and an increasing number of homes in or near forests. In 2003,President Bush proposed a Healthy Forests Initiative, with numerous regulatory changesto expedite fuel reduction activities. The 108th Congress enacted the Healthy ForestsRestoration Act of 2003 to provide an expedited process for fuel reduction activities andother related programs, and the Southwest Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention Actof 2004 to fund research and promote adaptive management in Ponderosa pine forests.This report summarizes congressional action through 2004, and will not be updated.IntroductionWildfires, and efforts to reduce the damage they cause, have received increasedattention in recent years. The 2000 and 2002 fire seasons were, by most measures, amongthe worst in the past 50 years. Many argue that the threat of sever