Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
If you love wild animals and the forests they live in, you may have heard about current efforts to “manage,” “thin,” or “reduce fuel loads” in forests to reduce wildfire danger, particularly in the western U.S.
But is “managing” forests with chainsaws, masticators, controlled burns, and herbicides the best (or only) way to restore forest health and protect human communities and animal communities from wildfires? Should we be “thinning” forests to save them from burning up? For that matter, do wildfires really “destroy” forests?
Everyone agrees that wildfire danger is real, but there is a controversy brewing between foresters — who use chainsaws, masticating machines, herbicides and “controlled” burns — and scientists who argue these industrial “treatments” actually degrade forests and increase wildfire danger.
Learn all about this hot topic, including how to protect your home if you live near trees or forest in CA, OR, or WA states — or know someone who does.
Featuring:
Jack Gescheidt, In Defense of Animals and The TreeSpirit Project
Richard W. Halsey, California Chaparral Institute
Fleur Dawes, In Defense of Animals
Deforestation Action Alerts:
idausa.org/marin
idausa.org/tomalesbay
Deforestation Project Resources:
treespiritproject.com/deforestation/vegetation-management-war-on-nature
californiachaparral.org
idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats
***Books***
Support our advocacy with a gift:
idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/protect-wild-animals-and-the-environment-today
If you love wild animals and the forests they live in, you may have heard about current efforts to “manage,” “thin,” or “reduce fuel loads” in forests to reduce wildfire danger, particularly in the western U.S.
But is “managing” forests with chainsaws, masticators, controlled burns, and herbicides the best (or only) way to restore forest health and protect human communities and animal communities from wildfires? Should we be “thinning” forests to save them from burning up? For that matter, do wildfires really “destroy” forests?
Everyone agrees that wildfire danger is real, but there is a controversy brewing between foresters — who use chainsaws, masticating machines, herbicides and “controlled” burns — and scientists who argue these industrial “treatments” actually degrade forests and increase wildfire danger.
Learn all about this hot topic, including how to protect your home if you live near trees or forest in CA, OR, or WA states — or know someone who does.
Featuring:
Jack Gescheidt, In Defense of Animals and The TreeSpirit Project
Richard W. Halsey, California Chaparral Institute
Fleur Dawes, In Defense of Animals
Deforestation Action Alerts:
idausa.org/marin
idausa.org/tomalesbay
Deforestation Project Resources:
treespiritproject.com/deforestation/vegetation-management-war-on-nature
californiachaparral.org
idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats
***Books***
Support our advocacy with a gift:
idausa.org/campaign/wild-animals-and-habitats/protect-wild-animals-and-the-environment-today
