Barb Van Andel-Gaby Chairman of Heritage Foundation - Economy | Official Website
Mario Loyola, a senior research fellow at the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment, has emphasized the need for proactive forest management in response to ongoing wildfire issues in Los Angeles County. Loyola highlighted the significant impact of current management practices on these environmental challenges.
“The ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County and across California are heartbreaking. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we commend the courage of the first responders," he stated. Loyola criticized past leadership decisions: "Unfortunately, these fires are the direct result of decades of mismanagement by progressive leaders like Governor Gavin Newsom, who have failed to implement proactive strategies to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires."
Loyola also linked energy policies to increased wildfire frequency and broader environmental issues. “Furthermore, Newsom's Green New Deal energy policies have worsened the frequency of wildfires, water shortages, and the broader energy crisis in California," he said.
He proposed active vegetation management as a solution. "Active vegetation management, including thinning trees, removing deadwood, and reducing excess fuel, can replace the status quo of fire-dependent management." He noted that both state and federal governments share responsibility for current conditions: "The damage caused by California’s failure to act proactively is undeniable. But state leaders aren’t solely to blame—the federal government under President Biden’s U.S. Department of Agriculture also shares responsibility."
Reflecting on previous administration efforts, Loyola remarked: “We saw strong leadership on wildfire management during the Trump administration." He cited Executive Order 13855 issued by President Donald Trump in 2018 as a positive step toward reducing wildfire risks through active forest management.
Loyola called for renewed commitment from future administrations: “The next Trump administration can build on this foundation by reducing regulatory barriers that delay fuel reduction and encouraging timber sales to help manage forest health." He concluded with a call for action: "It’s time to embrace responsible, proactive strategies to protect lives, property, and our environment.”
