Environmentalist Dr Patrick Moore is backing the use of “selective forestry” to prevent the increase of catastrophic wildfires across the US.
Despite a fall in the number of millions of acres hit by fires last year, there were a larger number of more devastating fires caused by overly dense forests.
“Throughout history, fire has contributed to the health of forest ecosystems by burning underbrush and smaller trees, and leaving large trees relatively intact,” said Dr Moore.
But, he warned, today’s forests were surrounded by communities, which meant fire was suppressed as much as possible, creating a build-up of “fuel” for much more destructive fires.
Dr Moore advocated active management of the forests – removing dead wood and thinning undergrowth – which could reduce the threat.
