Lawmakers tackle forest health

CASPER — Every year, the Wyoming state forester is statutorily required to update the Legislature on the health of Wyoming’s forests.

In a typical year for members of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources, the report is a valuable resource for identifying problems that face the state’s forestlands, encouraging cooperation between state and federal agencies and, potentially, developing solutions to address those problems.

2020, however, was not a typical year. Last year, Wyoming’s fire management teams spent more than two months at preparedness level five...