Thinning Key to Forest Management

KOB - TV - The Sandia Ranger district is thinning out the forest in the East Mountains, saying the area is just as ripe for future fires as the area ravaged by the massive Wallow Fire this summer. "Annually, we just get out there and clear dead branches and clear dead limbs," said private homeowner Travis Johansen. Johansen and his wife Charla say they are trying to do the responsible thing and thin out dense foliage on their property but they are afraid even that won't protect their home from forest fires. "How is it going to help us going to help us if we clear our land and our neighbors don't clear their land?" said Charla Johansen. Their concern is shared by the Sandia Ranger District, who says the forest is unnaturally thick. They look to Alpine, Ariz,, which was spared from the monster Wallow Fire this summer, only because of proactive forest thinning. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Thinning Key to Forest Management