Wildfires are a growing threat in the Northwest and a lot of money is spent on fire suppression. But a less costly approach could be to make homes and buildings more resistant to damage.

Kate Anderson, senior researcher with the farms and forest program at the Sightline Institute, said "fire hardening" is far cheaper and more effective than trying to suppress fires far from a person's home.

However, she said it's hard to change the mindset that we need to stop every fire, and also stop the current "wildfire treadmill" we're on.

"By fighting every fire for over a century now," said Anderson, "we've suppressed ourselves into a corner where even a small and innocuous fire can explode into an uncontrollable megafire."

Anderson said she believes fire hardening homes and communities is a cornerstone of climate resilience and adaptation. But the next step will be making it the new normal.

Anderson said some policies could help do this. Those include insurance discounts for hardened homes, requiring home sellers to disclose fire risk and using public funding to boost hardening.

However, she also noted that making homes fire resistant has its limits.

"Short of living in a concrete bunker, we can't guarantee that our homes will survive a wildfire," said Anderson, "but hardening them really will improve their odds."

Anderson said Oregon should also adopt and enforce wildfire building codes.

She said homeowners aren't internalizing the costs and these codes would be helpful to address that in the long term.

"People who live in fire prone lands will come to see them as natural," said Anderson, "just like many of the other rules and regulations we take for granted these days."

Ballots are due back in the Montana Secretary of State's office later this week, as lawmakers decide
whether to override Gov. Greg Gianforte's veto of a high-profile funding bill that would reapportion money from the state's marijuana sales tax.

Gianforte vetoed Senate Bill 442 after the Montana Senate had adjourned last session, which left lawmakers no chance to override it.

It would fund veterans' services, provide permanent property tax relief for vets & Gold Star families, invest in county road maintenance, and support land conservation and habitat management.

Montana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Frank Szollosi said the legislation has received broad support inside and outside the capitol.

"That's why agricultural interests have supported 442," said Szollosi. "Counties have supported 442, and the conservation & sporting communities have supportted 442, and local governments."

Gianforte said in his veto note that using state funds for local responsibilities such as road improvements is a "slippery slope."

A veto override requires the approval of two-thirds of lawmakers. Ballots are due back in the Secretary of State's office on Thursday.

Twenty percent of the sales tax revenue would be used specifically for habitat conservation - but equally important, supporters say, is the money that would be spent to improve veterans' programs and rural infrastructure.

The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Mike Lang - R-Malta - said S.B. 442 would provide services for groups that have not historically shared common interests.

"I just want to bridge the gap," said Lang, "between recreationists and hunters, and private landowners."

Critics of SB 442 have argued the funding distribution formula isn't equitable, while supporters say it directs resources towards those who need them most.

The bill passed the Legislature with 130 of 150 votes in last year's session.

More than $11 million in federal grant money will go to improve land and water conservation in the upper Verde River Watershed and Big Chino Grasslands in north central Arizona.

The grant requires a 50% non-federal match, which The Nature Conservancy Arizona and partners will provide - bringing the total to $23 million.

Kimberly Schonek - Arizona water director for the conservancy - said the Verde River is one of the state's last free-flowing rivers, and calls it a "critical water supply" for not only the Phoenix metro area but for the biodiversity around the river, which starts just north of Prescott.

She said the conservancy in Arizona will be using the money to purchase easements from willing landowners to ensure land preservation and limit groundwater use.

"The landowner will continue to ranch and farm their property into the future," said Schonek, "but it'll restrict that ability for them to develop it, and what that does is keep the water use on the land what it is now."

Schonek said as Arizona thinks about its future, it's important to limit the amount of water use in what she calls a "critical area."

She added that her organization has been enacting conservation easements and other measures along the Verde River since 2012.

Schonek said no landowners are required to participate, but adds many find value in being compensated and reinvesting those funds onto their properties.

Schonek said over the last 20-years, with drought, they've noticed river levels drop - and have also seen land usage around the river change.

She added that while certain areas of the river have less flow, others are now experiencing more water due to the collaborative work the conservancy and agricultural partners have fostered.

"So the future looks good, so long as the community continues to engage, and everybody has a part to play," said Schonek. "And so we are really excited and optimistic to continue partnering with rural communities and agriculture in protecting this river for the future."

Schonek said it is exciting to see this level of investment as they've been working on conservation efforts for decades.

She added that this is by the far the largest amount of money that'll be dedicated to the Verde River.




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April is Earth Month, and North Carolina's climate justice groups are addressing the crucial roles of air, land, water and health in protecting the environment.

CleanAIRE NC and Sol Nation are working together on an Earth Day event to raise awareness about the environmental challenges confronting communities across the state.

Madison Fragnito, partnership manager for CleanAIRE NC, said they are taking a holistic approach and planning STEM activities, with a focus on vital areas like transportation, energy and land conservation.

"We're going to have a lot of activities that focus on plants, conserving land, air quality," Fragnito outlined. "We're going to have some activities related to environmental justice and storytelling, as well as recycling and how you can take everyday actions in your life to improve your commitment to sustainability."

The urgency of addressing these issues is underscored by the state health department, which reports concerning trends from rising temperatures and sea levels to deteriorating air quality and weather extremes due to climate change.

The Earth Day event is on April 20, at the Charlotte Museum of History, from noon to 4 p.m. ET.

Fragnito explained the event also aims to raise awareness about the organizations and the work being done to combat pollution and other environmental concerns. She added in the evening, they will show two short films highlighting environmental justice issues.

"There's kind of a strong community-building aspect," Fragnito pointed out. "Watching the film together, building that sense of community among attendees, and fostering connections and solidarity. Storytelling builds allyship, and it's intended to create an educational and guided dialogue space."

The screening is at the Charlotte Museum of History from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Fragnito emphasized the Earth Day celebration should inspire positive change and show more people how they can engage with groups and take action to protect and preserve North Carolina's natural resources.