A View from the Front Lines – The Case for Local Forest Management

A Conversation with Dorothy Moon & Tea Party Bob

LISTEN HERE: IdahoRadio.com

When Dorothy Moon checks her mail, it requires a 26-mile round trip from her home in the heart of Idaho’s Sawtooth region. As Idaho’s GOP chairwoman describes her surroundings in Custer County, where 97% of land falls under federal control, she isn’t speaking as a distant policymaker but as someone who lives with the daily reality of federal forest management decisions. Her preparation for forest fires isn’t theoretical – it includes maintaining a modified military truck carrying 1,000 gallons of water, a necessity when emergency services might be hours away.

“We’ve made our own fire truck because we know the odds of somebody getting out and helping is going to be tough,” Moon explains. With four 250-gallon water tanks and a pump mounted on an old 6×6 army truck, her setup nearly matches a traditional fire engine’s 750-gallon capacity. This level of self-reliance isn’t unusual for residents of Idaho’s federally managed forests, where local knowledge and resources often provide the first and sometimes only line of defense against natural disasters.

The devastating Sawtooth fires of 2024 demonstrated the consequences of decades of federal forest mismanagement. The fires, which began near Grand Jean in the Loman area in June, initially “skunked around,” as Moon describes it, until August when dropping humidity levels and an abundance of dead timber created catastrophic conditions. But the story of these fires began years earlier, with federal policies that prevented effective management of diseased and dying trees.

Idaho’s forests have faced increasing threats from bark beetles and other insects over the past decades. The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) has been particularly devastating, killing millions of lodgepole pine trees across the state. In healthy forests, natural processes and regular thinning help control these infestations. However, federal management policies have often prevented the removal of infested trees, allowing beetles to spread unchecked through densely packed stands.

The U.S. Forest Service’s management approach shifted dramatically in the 1970s following the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). Before this shift, the Forest Service operated on a model of self-funding through sustainable timber harvests and mining activities. As Moon notes, “The Forest Service used to fund itself through logging contracts and mining.” This model not only maintained forest health but provided crucial revenue for local communities. The transition to a more preservation-focused approach, while well-intentioned, has had devastating unintended consequences.

The contrast between state and federal management becomes stark when examining outcomes. The Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) has successfully managed similar beetle infestations on state lands through active forest management practices. Their approach includes regular thinning operations, prompt removal of infected trees, and management practices that reduce both insect damage and fire risk. The Good Neighbor Authority program, where IDL manages timber sales on federal land, has shown promising results, returning proceeds to counties while maintaining forest health.

During the 2024 fires, Moon witnessed local loggers, intimately familiar with the terrain and forest conditions, being threatened with arrest for attempting to assist with fire management. These weren’t inexperienced volunteers but skilled professionals who understand forest dynamics and safe tree removal practices. “Idahoans know the landscape much better than somebody from DC that just came into the area, or some group with the Forest Service that just came in from North Carolina for their 10-day stint,” Moon observes.

The economic impact of federal mismanagement extends far beyond fire damage. While the federal government controls 32 million acres in Idaho, it provides only $32 million annually in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) – one dollar per acre to compensate for lost tax revenue. This minimal compensation severely impacts rural communities’ ability to fund essential services, from emergency response to education. In contrast, state-managed forests generate significant revenue through sustainable timber harvests while maintaining better forest health.

The success of Idaho’s state-managed forests provides a clear template for better practices. Under state management, forests maintain better health through active management while generating revenue for local communities. The Good Neighbor Authority program has demonstrated how local expertise can improve forest health even on federally owned lands, offering a model for broader reform.

The fires’ aftermath extends beyond immediate damage. “The water flows are going to be horrible,” Moon predicts, discussing spring runoff from burned areas. Her background as a science teacher adds weight to her concerns about long-term ecological impacts. Severe fires don’t just destroy trees; they sterilize soil, eliminate wildlife habitat, and create conditions for devastating erosion. The 2024 fires’ impact on wildlife was immediately apparent – from bears and deer to smaller creatures, the forest’s entire ecosystem suffered.

The vision for Idaho’s forests isn’t about returning to unrestricted resource extraction, but rather implementing proven management practices that maintain forest health while supporting local communities. The success of IDL’s management approach demonstrates that environmental stewardship and economic viability aren’t mutually exclusive. Their practices focus on forest health while providing economic benefits that support local communities.

The path forward requires recognizing that effective forest management demands local knowledge and control. Moon’s experience – from maintaining her own firefighting equipment to watching federal policies prevent common-sense fire prevention – illustrates why distant bureaucrats shouldn’t dictate forest management to those who live in and understand these landscapes.

For those seeking to understand more about these challenges and their solutions, Moon’s full discussion is available on Idaho Pulse, where she elaborates on both the problems facing Idaho’s forests and the practical steps needed to restore their health and productivity. The lessons from Idaho’s experience offer valuable insights for forest management nationwide, demonstrating how local control and knowledge can better protect these vital resources for future generations.

LISTEN HERE: IdahoRadio.com