Trump’s role in federal forest management

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Last Updated on January 29, 2025 by BVN

Overview: President Donald Trump has been critical of Governor Gavin Newsom and other officials for the devastating wildfires in California, but who is responsible for forest lands and the failure of the federal government to do its part in clearing them. The use of “fire as medicine” by Indigenous people has been abated in the past, but is now being considered as an important part of the solution to the wildfire threats. Indigenous knowledge and strategies have been shown to increase biodiversity and resilience in ecosystems, and should be taken into consideration as we seek solutions to the increasing wildfire threats. There are however, concerns regarding the impact controlled fires have on air quality.

S.E. Williams

Since the spate of recent catastrophic wildfires in California, President Donald J. Trump–in alignment with his previous criticisms–has continued to disparage Governor Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Kristin Crowley, and anyone else in the state he feels free to blame for the disastrous wildfires. 

Were Trump to assess his own failed leadership as it relates to his lack of action to help mitigate the threats of a changing climate in his previous administration, and the probability that he will do even less in the present administration, he might realize there are things his administration can do to help the state reduce the growing fire dangers.

The president’s condemnations are typically summed up with his references to the alleged mismanagement of the state’s forests and water.  His comments about water usually refers to environmental protections for the California smelt that is protected under both the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). His frequent references to “raking” the forests refers to “controlled burns” used to clear the forest of “dead leaves, tree limbs, and other debris” as a way to help prevent devastating wildfires.  

The first thing that should be clarified is the reality that federal agencies, now under the stewardship of Trump, are actually responsible for the majority of forestland in California. In other words, at least 57%, or 19 million of the near 33 million acres of forestland in the state are actually his responsibility as president to maintain under the jurisdiction of the US Forest Service.  The agency has treated nearly 80 square miles of national forest in Southern California since 2023. 

But, consider this: There are 3.5 million acres of national forests in Southern California. The 80 square miles that have been cleared by the National Forest Service since 2023, is equivalent to 51,200 acres of forest or a mere 1.5% of the 3.5 million acres of national forest in Southern California. This is nothing for Trump to brag about–that’s probably why he never mentions the amount of forests under national stewardship in the state or the failure of the federal government to do its part in this regard. 

“[Cultural burning] links back to the tribal philosophy of fire as medicine. When you prescribe it, you’re getting the right dose to maintain the abundance of productivity of all ecosystem services to support the ecology in your culture”

Kanawha Lake

Based on this, it appears the president should maybe consider buying rakes for some members of his own administration, who, by many estimations are not qualified for the positions he has slotted them into. Maybe some of these unqualified individuals might be better suited to rake the forests here in California. 

All kidding aside, part of the reason Trump can so easily lie about who is responsible for maintaining/clearing the forests is because there is not a lot of clarity regarding who is responsible for forest lands. Also, because our history is taught with so many omissions, half truths, and at times, outright lies, the use of “fire as medicine” as a contribution of Indigenous people, is not currently part of the standard curriculum in a state where the risk of wildfires are ever present.

This maintenance of the earth came to an abrupt end with onset of the California Gold Rush and was largely abandoned during much of the twentieth century. 

The discovery of gold accelerated an influx of white settlers to the state and resulted in the ultimate murder and/or removal of Indigenous tribes to reservations, effectively putting an end to generations of indigenous use of “fire” as an effective means of forest management. 

The entitlement of white supremacy and the ingrained arrogance that accompanies it, coupled with the flagrant dismissal of indigenous knowledge and a rapidly changing climate, has resulted in the overdue need for more deliberate forest management. 

A 2021 report by the World Economic Forum reviewed research papers published over the past 100 years and determined that Indigenous fire stewardship, “increases biodiversity in almost all of earth’s terrestrial biomes.” The report further stressed how biodiversity “keeps ecosystems more resilient to disturbances [wildfires, bark beetle infestations] and provides immeasurable intrinsic, recreational and societal value.”

The report further stressed how, “Indigenous fire practitioners have a deep knowledge of how specific types of fire can increase or decrease the abundance of species in a given area.”

The “fire as medicine” strategy used successfully by Indigenous people the world over and largely dismissed in the wake of white settlement and/or colonization, is being looked to as an important part of the solution to the wildfire threats we currently face. 

Although controlled fires have been used sparingly here in the state, as there are also some risks weighing in the balance. They include the impact on air quality, risks of controlled fires getting out of control, and of course, the risks to firefighters, just to name a few. 

As we continue to seek solutions to the increasing wildfire threats, I find it strangely ironic that the white supremacy mindset that drove Indigenous people in this country off their land, disrupted their successful stewardship of mother earth, and is continuing to ignore the warning signs of climate change, now clamour for the use of indigenous land management strategies to help solve the current, monumental wildfire threats facing the state, the nation and the world. 

Of course, this is just my opinion. I’m keeping it real.

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