Forest Health
- past land-use and management practices, such as fire suppression, grazing, and logging that reduced the frequency of natural fires; and
- drought and other problems made worse by climate change that can destroy critical habitats and make forests more vulnerable to insect infestations.
(Excerpted from GAO-15-398)
- Conducted prescribed burns to help restore the forest floor to its natural condition. One project in Florida mechanically chopped and mulched overgrown palmetto plants before burning the area.
- Removed non-native tree species to give space to native species that provide important habitats for certain kinds of birds.
- Improved roads and trails to reduce erosion and sediment in streams and restore watershed health.
- Thinned forests, cutting down smaller trees to help reduce severe wildfires or improve wildlife habitat.
(Excerpted from GAO-15-398)
(Excerpted from GAO-15-398)
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