BOISE, Idaho - Federal officials have released their review on removing or changing vegetation over a huge swath of the U.S. West to stop wildfires on land used for cattle ranching, recreation and habitat for imperiled sage grouse. Giant rangeland wildfires in recent decades have destroyed vast areas of sagebrush steppe that support some 350 species of wildlife. Methods to create them include putting down herbicide, mechanically removing vegetation and planting vegetation that can resist wildfires. But critics say fuel breaks can fragment habitat and harm wildlife, including sage grouse, and in many cases aren’t effective. Erik Molvar of Western Watersheds Project noted that rangeland wildfires have jumped interstates and the Columbia River.

Source: thestar June 24, 2019 21:18 UTC