Exeter wildfire sparked new initiative to improve forest management
On September 13, Representative Megan Cotter (Democrat, District 39, Exeter, Richmond, Hopkinton) held the first meeting of her Special Legislative Commission to Evaluate and Provide Recommendations on Proper Forest Management for Fire Prevention.
Representative Cotter provided the following op-ed to explain her new commission:
“54 percent of Rhode Island is forested, which is
impressive considering it’s the second-most densely populated state in the
nation. It’s also quite a resurgence; by the mid-1700s, settlers’ agriculture
had reduced tree cover in the area to just 31 percent, down from 95 percent
before their arrival a century earlier.
“While Rhode Island has long recognized the value of
forests, establishing its Forest Commission back in 1906, today we
are not giving forest stewardship the priority it deserves.
“This is evident in the increasing frequency and
severity of forest fires. In April, 350 acres were scorched by a wildfire that
began in Queen’s River Preserve in Exeter. Fortunately, no one was
hurt and no homes caught fire, thanks to the great work of many local
firefighters, but it was Rhode Island’s largest forest fire since 1942. And it
was less than a week after another fire burned more than 150 acres at the Big
River Management Area in West Greenwich. Several smaller forest fires also
burned that week, fueled by dry conditions and dead wood.
“Of course, this problem isn’t unique to Rhode Island. Our neighbors in Canada have been besieged by record-shattering wildfires this year, billowing so much smoke so far that it triggered air quality alerts here, and even reached Europe.
“The fact is, our climate is changing. Hotter, dryer
conditions and more frequent extreme weather present new challenges to
maintaining our forests. We need to adapt to this new reality with a new and
more vigorous approach to forest management.
“This session I sponsored legislation (2023-H 6342) creating a new House commission to
determine the best action for improving forest management. Our commission,
which began working this week, brings together experts and stakeholders to
identify our strengths and weaknesses, and how our state can best direct our
resources toward effective forest management in our increasingly volatile
environment.
“We need to engage in more modern, effective means of
maintaining our forests, much of which are privately held land. That means we
must work as partners with landowners, helping them safely manage the risks of
fires, for their benefit and the safety of the public. We should collaborate
with land trusts and conservation organizations, many of which already engage
in outstanding stewardship practices and can provide valuable guidance.
“Putting in the planning and maintenance work
necessary to prevent forest fires has benefits far beyond public safety.
Forests directly reduce carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, play a major role
in filtering pollution from our groundwater, and cool the land in the summer.
Of course, they provide many intangible benefits too, as any hiker or kid in a
tree fort will attest.
“Forest management is not just for the wider expanses
in the western part of our state. Urban trees are just as critical, providing
vital stormwater control and cooling during the summer. According to the US Forest Service, Providence found that its
415,000 trees provide $4.7 million in environmental benefits annually, and a
study of five US cities has shown that every dollar invested in urban forest
management results in benefits ranging from $1.37 to $3.09.
“Keeping our forests healthy and encouraging the
conservation of forested land should be a high priority for Rhode Island. I
look forward to helping to forge a new path forward toward better forest
stewardship in our state.”
Rep. Megan L. Cotter (D-Dist. 39, Exeter, Richmond,
Hopkinton) is chairwoman of the Special Legislative Commission to Evaluate and
Provide Recommendations on Proper Forest Management for Fire Prevention.