US Policy Response to the Wildfire Fuels Management Problem: An Analysis of the News Media Debate about the Healthy Forests Initiative and the Healthy Forests Restoration Act

Abstract

The Healthy Forests Initiative (HFI) and Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA) represent major policy and legislative responses to the wildfire fuels management problem in the USA. This study examined the nature and evolution of the news media discussion and debate about these policy initiatives. Computer content analysis was used to analyse favourable and unfavourable beliefs about HFI/HFRA expressed in about 2800 news stories and editorials published from August 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004. The most frequently mentioned favourable beliefs that emerged included the view that HFI/HFRA will (1) reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire, (2) protect people, communities, and property, and (3) cut red tape and speed up decision making processes. The most commonly expressed unfavourable beliefs included the view that HFI/HFRA (1) is an excuse to increase logging, (2) will weaken environmental protections, and (3) will reduce public input. Some evidence was found of a gradual shift in the media discussion to a more favourable view of HFI/HFRA over time. The Bush administration's framing of its HFI as essential for reducing dangerous levels of fuels in forests and lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfires slowly gained ground and became the dominant discourse, but mistrust was found to be an ongoing issue as the HFRA is implemented.

Keywords:

• Healthy Forests Restoration Act
• Healthy Forests Initiative
• computer content analysis
• wildfire policy
• fuels reduction
• news media

Acknowledgement

Funding was provided as part of a Northern Research Station National Fire Plan research project coordinated by Sarah McCaffrey.

Notes

In Europe, the Eurobarometer surveys have found that television news and newspapers are the main sources of environmental information, and that environmental protection associations, scientists and television are the most trusted (European Commission, 2008).