The San Bernardino National Forest has issued a proposal to create fuel-breaks across 25,000 acres of forest to protect communities and the local ecosystem against potentially catastrophic wildfires by 2025
Project Proposal
Named the “Forest-wide Community Defense Fuel-break Project,” the goal is to make fuel-breaks across 25,000 of the San Bernardino National Forest to create a more fire resilient forest that will protect communities and the ecosystem against potentially catastrophic wildfires. The SBNF will identify and prescribe treatment plans for SBNF, emphasizing the most at-risk communities delineated by areas called “Wildlife Urban Interface Defense and Threat Zones,” which is the transitional area where human-occupied land and wildlands meet.
As stated by the proposal fuel-break treatments will include prescribed fires, forest thinning, the removal of hazardous trees, herbicide and vegetation removal, reforestation efforts for shaded fuel breaks, and ensuring the small areas adjacent to roads and infrastructure are free of burnable material to create a buffer zone.
Where is this occurring
On 25,000 acres across all units of the San Bernardino National Forest. Priority is given to evacuation routes, areas with high drought conditions and dry vegetation, and any zones surrounding communities and critical infrastructure.
See a map here of the proposed fuel-breaks and phases.
Timeline and Status
Status: The project is currently “under analysis” following the public comment period. Recently the San Bernardino National Forest suffered through the Line Fire beginning on September 5, 2024, and we (Magna Terra) anticipate this may influence the project areas and treatment plans in response to this tragic occurrence.
August 23, 2023: Scoping began for the proposal and EIS
September 23, 2024: Public comments closed.
September, 2025: Estimated date for a final decision on project scope.
October, 2025: Estimated date to begin implementing the projects.
Impacts
The San Bernardino National Forest is home to ski resorts, lake resorts, communities and residences, and the proposed fuel-break project would reduce the risk of loss or damage to the property and infrastructure critical to the communities and businesses in them. This includes many of the tourism and recreational activities that occur within the SBNF.
Several American Indian tribes have ancestral lands within the San Bernardino National Forest, and the proposed project will directly affect their communities, businesses, and resources, and as such these tribes are to be consulted on all forest projects through the SBNF Tribal Relations Program. Including American Indian perspectives and knowledge into management plans is critical for everyone to benefit from these projects.
By making the San Bernardino National Forest more resilient to catastrophic wildfires, the local ecosystems can better serve endangered species, plants, and other wildlife. This also directly impacts the quality of watersheds and other ecosystem services provided by the San Bernardino National Forest. Wildfires can be a natural and healthy part of the ecosystem, but without an active management the fires can burn out of control beyond what is healthy for the landscape.
Resources
- Project page of the Forest-wide Community Defense Fuel-break Project
- Link to current documents issued for this project
- San Bernardino National Forest Service – Schedule of all proposed actions
