Tapping Indigenous practices to protect Colorado's firefighters
Forest managers are hoping to scale up efforts to rein in catastrophic wildfires by using the expertise developed over hundreds of years by Colorado’s original residents.
Natural environments across the Mountain West evolved with fire, and Indigenous peoples managed forests through a sophisticated burning regimen to keep the landscapes they depended on healthy.
Jennifer Mueller, CEO of the nonprofit Ember Alliance, said if voters approve Proposition 137 on this year’s ballot, managers will have the resources they need to reduce the size of wildfires.
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"When we stopped burning and started suppressing fire, we've gotten this buildup of way too much fuel. We just have too many trees on the landscape. Not only does that create unhealthy forest conditions but that's also really unsafe for firefighters," Mueller outlined.
Proposition 137 would divert some $200 million in existing sales taxes, collected when people purchase outdoor gear, to help the state respond to drought, wildfires and other impacts of a changing climate. Some critics noted the funding would only be available during budget surplus years. According to a Common Sense Institute analysis, the measure would reduce Coloradans’ tax refunds by $26 for individuals and by as much as $166 for joint filers.
Pat Lane, senior manager of U.S. Conservation for The Pew Charitable Trusts, who lives in Evergreen, said Colorado is currently facing a shortfall of between $150 million and $200 million to protect the state’s natural landscapes and vital water resources. He argued Proposition 137 can help fill the gap.
"These are funds that would conserve and restore important habitat, wildlife corridors, watersheds, and our outdoor recreation economy, all while reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire events in our communities," Lane pointed out.
Mueller added the new funding would also help groups like hers work with communities to create comprehensive Community Wildfire Protection Plans and train new firefighters. She stressed after changes in federal funding priorities under the Trump administration, forest managers are facing a funding cliff.
"We need to be investing in local, state-funded solutions that are actually providing communities with the tools and resources that they need to protect what they care about," Mueller urged.
