Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, and Colorado U.S. Representative Jason Crow introduced the Protect the West Act to make a $60 billion investment in our forests to reduce wildfire risk, restore our watersheds, and protect our communities. U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are cosponsors of the bill.

 

“In the West, our forests, grasslands, and watersheds are as important to our economy as the Lincoln Tunnel is to New York. But they are under threat – not only from climate change, but also consistent underinvestment from the federal government,” said Bennet. “As we face a 1,200 year megadrought and wildfire season that never seems to end, we need to break from the status quo and make a major investment in the restoration of our forests that matches the scale of the challenge. We have no time to waste.”

 

“As wildfires intensify, Colorado’s residents, economy, and fundamental way of life are in jeopardy. It’s time to act now to fight the worsening effects of climate change and protect our families and communities,” said Crow. “The Protect the West Act will bolster Colorado’s economy and protect our environment for generations to come.”

 

“Preserving Colorado’s forests and watersheds protects our water supplies and bolsters our booming outdoor recreation industry for generations to come—it’s a win-win. That’s why we need to invest in preventing wildfires and safeguarding our public lands and waterways,” said Hickenlooper.

 

“Major investment is urgently needed to protect Western forests and watersheds from increasingly dangerous wildfires and droughts,” said Wyden. “The Protect the West Act will ensure Congress funds much needed fire mitigation and restoration efforts — so communities stay safe and so that future generations can continue to enjoy Oregon’s beautiful natural treasures.”

 

America’s forests and public lands are essential infrastructure – supporting an $862 billion outdoor recreation economy and $164 billion agricultural economy. They are also vital to America’s waterways: the four major rivers that start in Colorado’s National Forests – the Colorado, Platte, Arkansas, and Rio Grande – collectively supply water to 19 states and parts of Mexico. Eighty percent of Coloradans rely on water that comes from National Forest land.

 

Despite the importance of our forests to our economy, watersheds, and way of life, Washington has failed to invest in them before wildfires start. The federal government currently spends thirty times more to recover from severe wildfires after they burn than to prevent wildfires in the first place The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated that U.S. wildfires cost $11.4 billion in 2021, including the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado that destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses and is Colorado’s most destructive wildfire on record. Over the last five years, the U.S. spent nearly $67 billion on wildfires, and in 2022 alone, over 7.5 million acres burned nationally.

 

Over the last two years, Washington has begun to recognize the investment that our forests need. As the chair of the subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources, Bennet secured $5.5 billion in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and $5 billion in the Inflation Reduction Act for our forests. But more must be done to protect the future of the American West as it faces a 1,200 year megadrought and an endless wildfire season. To that end, Bennet is proposing a major investment in the restoration of our forests, grasslands, and watersheds to protect the American West as we know it.

 

Specifically, the Protect the West Act would:

 

-Establish an Outdoor Restoration & Watershed Fund to increase support for local efforts to restore forests and watersheds, reduce wildfire risk, clean up public lands, enhance wildlife habitat, remove invasive species, and expand outdoor access. The bill establishes an advisory council of local, industry, conservation, Tribal, and national experts to advise funding priorities, coordinate with existing regional efforts, and provide oversight.

 

-Empower local leaders by making $20 billion directly available to state and local governments, Tribes, special districts, and nonprofits to support restoration, drought resilience, and fire mitigation projects. These funds would empower local leaders to bring diverse voices to the table to develop solutions.

 

-Partner with states and Tribes to invest $40 billion to tackle the backlog of restoration, fire mitigation, and resilience projects across public, private, and Tribal lands.

 

-Create or sustain over two million good-paying jobs, primarily in rural areas, to support existing industries like forest-product, agriculture, and outdoor recreation.

 

-Save landowners and local governments money by investing in wildfire prevention and natural hazard mitigation on the front end, which is thirty times more cost-effective than recovering forests and watersheds after natural disasters have struck.

 

The bill is supported by: The National Wildlife Federation, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, National Association of State Foresters, The Freshwater Trust, American Forests, National Wild Turkey Federation, National Audubon Society, Family Farm Alliance, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Western Landowners Alliance, Western Resource Advocates, Trout Unlimited, and Conservation Legacy.

 

The bill text is available here. A summary of the bill is available here.