The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) reduced the scale of its Los Padres National Forest Wildfire Risk Reduction Project by approximately 200,000 acres.
The vegetation and fuels management project was first announced in 2022 and included more than 235,000 acres across central California’s Coast and Transverse ranges. In late October, USFS announced the project would now span approximately 33,000 acres. The revised project reduces work in roadless areas and critical habitat.
Last year, USFS reduced the project to roughly 100,000 acres and published a draft Environmental Assessment. A coalition of conservation groups and other organizations urged the agency to reduce the scale of the project.
“While we appreciate those improvements, this remains a large and complex project, and there are still important areas where further refinement is needed,” said Los Padres ForestWatch Director of Advocacy and Field Operations Benjamin Pitterle.
