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Gov. Martz to focus on forest health as Western Governors’ Association chairman
HELENA – Gov. Judy Martz, newly elected chairman of the Western Governors’ Association for the
next year, said Tuesday her top priority is working to reduce the risk of wildfires in the West.
By CHARLES S. JOHNSON
Gazette State Bureau
In a telephone press conference from Phoenix, Martz said the group of governors made significant
progress on the 10-year plan they adopted earlier this year to improve the health of forests and rangelands,
regardless of any philosophical differences among them.
Martz, discussing the fires in Montana two years ago that burned more than 1 million acres, said it’s time
for forest health to be addressed
"We look forward to doing all this work," Martz said. "If we lose our forests, we will lose our infrastructure
that knows how to take care of the forests."
Martz discussed "environmental terrorism," which she said is what tears at people’s heart because the
forest environment has not been taken care of and people fear their homes and land may be destroyed by fire.
She also expressed concern over the numerous appeals filed over the years by environmental groups to
halt timber sales and logging.
"In my eyes, they played a great role in fires," Martz said.
She urged environmentalists to come to the table and meet to discuss forest health.
"There’s got to be some balance," she said.
Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne called for a collaborative
effort with government officials, Indian tribal representatives
and environmental advocates on forest issues, even though
not all groups will agree.
"There are some groups that will oppose anything,"
Kempthorne said. "If you don’t remove some of this fuel load,
you’ll have massive fires." He said the trees destroyed by fire
in Idaho could have built 100,000 homes.
Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer called for more thinning of forests. He said the plan adopted by the governors
is one with goals that can be measured year after year.
"The debate that ought to go on here is how will we work together," he said.
Because of the large fires in Arizona and Colorado, Martz urged people who believe in the power of prayer
to put it to work.
Martz said the Western Governors’ Association conference will be in Big Sky in September 2003.
Her chairmanship of the group will mean more work, she said, "but it will connect us to the western region
more than we have been in the past."
Geringer, a past chairman of the group, said Martz "has just expanded her personal staff by 16," a reference
to the Western Governors’ Association staff. Geringer said this will give Martz "a much broader perspective" and
provide additional staff to research issues of importance to Montana. In addition, it will give Martz a chance "to
lead public policy, which is all the more important in a new age of federalism."
Said Martz: "This is an opportunity for us to cluster issues."
Another former chairman of the group, Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, said, "Judy Martz was chosen because she
has rapidly emerged as a leader among the western governors. She is a coalition builder. Collaborative activity
is what she has demonstrated. It will not just help Montana, it will be a big help to the interior West."
On other issues, Martz said the group will continue to work on energy, tourism, workforce development and
homeland security.
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises
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