AFRC raises concerns about impact of Sattitle National Monument on wildfires

NORTHSTATE, CA — The American Forest Resources Council (AFRC) is concerned about the damage this monument could do to their work to limit the danger of wildfires.

Sattitle National Monument will occupy more than 200,000 acres of federal land in the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, and Modoc National Forests.

Pit River National Tribal Council Representative previously expressedthe importance of preserving the land not only for the tribe but for future generations, saying there are cultural and environmental reasons they want to preserve the land.

Although the AFRC is concerned about the implications of protecting this land.

“Our concern is that we are in the middle of a major wildfire, and California is the epicenter of the wildfire. The monument designation does not make it easier to proactively protect these lands and reduce wildfire risks,” said Nick Smith, AFRC director of public affairs.

Smith said the monument area includes or adjoins more than a dozen fire hazards, and while they share the values ​​of healthy air, water and ecosystems, the AFRC believes it puts tribal, cultural and ecological values ​​at greater risk.

They say the monument would override the Biden administration’s initiatives such as the Wildfire Prevention Strategy, the National Old Age Amendment and the Northwest Forest Plan Amendment.

Lawmakers such as Sen. Alex Padilla and Congressman Adam Schiff support the monument because they recognize the land as sacred to the Pete River and Modoc peoples.

The establishment of this monument will also contribute to their goal of permanently conserving 30% of US land and coastal waters by 2030.

We reached out to the Pitt River National Tribe and the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, which did not respond.

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