    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [May 23, 2002]
    [Pages 858-859]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Conference on Improving Forest Health and Reducing Risk
    of Wildfire
    May 23, 2002

        I commend Secretary Norton and Secretary
    Veneman for their strong leadership in
    addressing the widespread problems of declining forest health and the
    risk of destructive wildfires, particularly in the West. Today's
    conference, highlighting the completion of the Ten Year Comprehensive
    Strategy Implementation Plan, marks an important new cooperative effort
    between the Federal Government, States, local governments, Native
    American tribes, and concerned citizens and organizations. Working
    together, we will promote sound forest management to restore forest
    health and make the recreational opportunities and resources of our
    forests more accessible. In many areas, this will require active forest
    management efforts to thin our forests of excessive natural fuels and
    restore native vegetation to our forests and rangelands.
        Our goal is to reduce the threat that wildfires pose to homes,
    communities, and the environment. Severe drought conditions in many
    areas of the United States make it essential that we cooperate in our
    efforts to fight fires and reduce the fuel loads that cause them.
    Cooperation will also enable us to move forward on other important
    endeavors, such as improving the performance of the Northwest Forest
    Plan. I thank Governor Kempthorne and
    Governor Kitzhaber for their help in
    crafting this bipartisan agreement and for hosting this important
    conference.

    [[Page 859]]

    Note: The statement referred to Gov. Kirk Kempthorne of Idaho and Gov.
    John A. Kitzhaber of Oregon.