Speeches

Remarks of Governor Judy Martz
Fire Management Leadership Meeting
Albuquerque, New Mexico
May 10, 2001

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Thank you for the opportunity to address this important meeting. I'm told that this is an unprecedented gathering of fire management officials. It was only a few months ago when many of us were loosely woven together in a battle against a common enemy known as wildfire. I'm sure everyone is more rested today. We've had some time to recover from a 24/7 sort of schedule that, at the time, I wondered if it would ever be normal again.

Yet, out of these situations, lessons are learned and leadership abilities are exemplified. I believe there's good evidence to show why our Regional Forester, Dale Bosworth will now be Chief of our nation's Forest Service. I can tell you that Montanans from every walk of life and from every special interest I can think of are mighty pleased that President Bush has named this man to lead this important agency.
The strong words of support for this appointment from so many diverse interests demonstrate that Dale is a team builder. He'll be an outstanding Chief and Montana is very proud and very pleased to see him accept this appointment. He's been "tried by fire" so to speak. And that's good news for the West because he listens and he knows the issues that matter most to all of us.

I also want to thank each and every one of you in this room for the contribution you made to the fire fighting effort last year. Every state and federal agency played an important role in our united effort.

The experience only demonstrates how important our lines of communication are. We renew our commitment to improving those lines of communication wherever possible and wherever necessary because another fire season has, in fact, already begun.

We're looking forward with some trepidation that the coming summer holds as much potential, if not more potential for serious fires across the West. I'm pleased to know that the meeting you are having here this week will make a difference for the people I represent in Montana. It may be "your job." But I can assure you that many people in Montana recognize your efforts as a Godsend.

Forest Health is now a topic on everyone's agenda. Strategies for management and forest health are a priority for the Bush Administration. I look forward to working with the new Administration in honing our focus on forest health.

I was in Washington earlier this year on several occasions and met personally with President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton. I believe they are committed to addressing the health of our public land system, one based on science, not sound bites.

While we cannot prevent drought, lightening strikes or hot windy days, we can prevent some of the devastating impacts that result from mismanagement and inaction. Fire is a natural part of our ecosystem. However, some of the fires we experienced last summer were not natural. They were not rejuvenating fires that cleansed our forest floors and invigorated growth. Instead they were "catastrophic" fires. Fires that swept through the tree tops, sterilized the soil and wiped out entire landscapes and watersheds. They were fires that in some cases permanently damaged our environment.

We must manage our national forests. "Hands-off" is not management. We have successfully excluded fire from our landscape for the past 90 years. And while federal agencies were quick to respond to fire starts across our nation, their hands were slowly being tied by lawsuits and directives from Washington D.C., that prevented the active management of those lands. Management that should have been based on sound forest health principles fell victim to outside motivations.

The result, entire watersheds and landscapes have grown dense with small trees and brush, creating unnatural and unhealthy conditions ripe for catastrophic fires. In fact, the General Accounting Office in a report requested by Congress, identified nearly 40 million acres of national forest land at risk of catastrophic fire within the interior west. Last summer, we burned less than 10% of the acreage identified by the GAO.

Unless we move aggressively, with a unified plan and strategy, we can expect many more summers like the last. While spring is just beginning to ease into the intermountain west, the impacts from last summer's fires remain to be seen. Impacts to water quality, wildlife habitat, endangered species, erosion and regeneration will play itself out with the coming spring run-off and summer rains

As a nation, we need to move away from the confrontational gridlock we have experienced in the past. I have long maintained that there is no constituency for dirty air and dirty water. We all want a clean environment. But a clean environment does not happen by accident. It happens with measured purpose.

And before I go any further, let me say that I place a greater trust in you, the local managers of our forests, than I do in politicians in Washington D.C. You represent your communities, the values and lifestyles unique to each community. You have the skill, the expertise, and the knowledge to manage our public lands that reflect the values of your community. We need to get politics out of the way and allow you to do the job you trained for, you stake your reputation on and you love.

You did not entertain this profession to spend days locked in a room with lawyers defending decisions you know are right. You did not enter this profession to wait for directives made miles away, decisions that are based in politics, not science. I believe most of you want to do what's right. And I would guess that most of you are fed up with political rhetoric that serves not the health of our public lands, but the serves the pocket books of special interest groups and poll numbers.

With this said, we need to move the decision making process back to the local level. And we need to focus strictly on the health of our forests.

By focusing on the health of our forests, we can achieve many of the objectives important to all Americans. Instead of focusing on how much timber we harvest, we need to focus on how much we leave on the land. Instead of focusing on acres harvested or board feet processed, we need to focus on the overall health of the forest ecosystem. We need to manage our forests for an end result; and that end result must be a healthy forest.

We must move in a direction that puts the responsibility of healthy forests in the hands of professionals. And then we must hold those professionals accountable. I have yet to talk to a professional land manager who is not willing and ready to accept this responsibility and accountability.

By focusing on the health of our forests, we will spend less time preparing for catastrophic fires and the consequences of those fires, and more time protecting habitat, preserving wildlife and enhancing our communities.

This summer is looking like another challenging year for much of the west. Unless spring rains materialize soon, we will once again be faced with the grim reminder that turning a blind eye to the health of our forests, can result in horrifying consequences.

Montana is already preparing for another potentially historic year. Snowpack levels are less than last year. Our Lt. Governor, Karl Ohs, as chairman of Montana's Drought Advisory Committee has already issued a drought advisory for Montana.

And while we can't do much to prevent the upcoming fire season, we must remain vigilant in our duties to look beyond this year. We must work to minimize the damaging effects of catastrophic fire. I know, by working together, we can and will move beyond the historic fires and fire potential we see today.

I believe that if we remain focused on doing what is right on our public lands, some day soon, we will be able to gather like today and thank those who were brave enough to get beyond the political rhetoric. We will be able to thank the public land servants who worked without cameras, without praise and without recognition to bring the health of our forests back to state that we can all be proud.

We were lucky last year. With the grace of God and a mobilization of forces like we have never before seen, lives were saved and property was protected. Unless we seriously commit to addressing the risks posed by unnatural and unhealthy forests, we will not always be able to say we were so lucky.

Now, let me take this opportunity to say thanks. Thanks to each one of you for the important role you played in last year's fire and drought efforts. Thanks for your commitment to preserving and protecting the treasures of our nation. Treasures that will be enjoyed not only today, but for the generations that will tread this land long after we are forgotten. The hours you invested in protecting us in Montana and throughout the West cannot be fully inventoried.

Many of you faced unprecedented challenges.

However, your real challenge will be to prepare for the next disaster. I speak for Montana when I say we are grateful for the thoughtful planning you are investing today and in your work every day. Montanans can rest easier because of your collective efforts.

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