I could see both the royal gorge and black forest fires from here in divide.
I agree about the timing - but that is man made. The 9th circuit has banned additional logging in the beetle kill areas - “if someone built a logging road, then some crazy might ride an ATV down it and that would be bad for the forest, doncha know. Yes, much better to let it burn down uncontrollably. Especially since the 9th circuit is in California and the fires are in colorado...
Maine went thru this 40 years ago with the “spruce budworm”. Solution back then? Clear cut the dead, plant new trees. Presto! A new crop 40 years later!
You are so right. God forbid that someone cuts a tree, even if it is dead. What good is all that forest land if no one can enjoy it. I think it is much more of an anti-capitalism thing than it is a caring about the forest thing. If they cared about the forest they would want people to go in there and thin it. I read that when the settlers came to Colorado the Ponderosa forests were filled with majestic 100 foot trees up to 7 ft. in diameter. There were only 40 trees to the acre and now the average is something like a thousand trees to the acre. The policy ought to be left in the hands of those in the local area who know the forest and the conditions if you ask me.