Because fire is a frequent visitor in many of the region's dry forests, extension educator Chris Schnepf has authored a guide to help woodland owners better manage their lands. Schnepf's guide, Logging Selectively , covers the basic concepts of forestry with a goal of lessening the risks of fire, insects, and disease. The pocket guide's intent, Schnepf said, is to help landowners decide which trees to cut or leave when logging or thinning. This will give people a better idea of which trees to choose to leave a healthy, resilient forest. And resilience includes fire resistance, insect resistance, and drought resistance.
Fire plays an elemental role in Idaho's forests and ranges.
The charred aftermath of a fire can seem devastating to property owners or terrifying to those who witness a firestorm. What happens next, how people and the lands under their care respond, can itself play a major role in whether a fire can produce benefits or whether it will register as a loss.