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THERE ARE NO PANACEAS. A combination of fuel treatment tools must be available for 

 professional land managers to apply to accomplish the highly complex job of managing lands 

 and ecosystems in the future. Local collaboration in goal-setting is a must. Adequate Agency 

 staff with suitable skills, focusing their efforts on the ground to meet the goals that are acceptable 

 to a broad range of the public are needed. The availability of highly skilled entrepreneurs who 

 can utilize their expertise and capital to work to meet these goals is also necessary. Responsive 

 federal programs which contribute to and support the effort are paramount to success. 



I have some pictures that may help demonstrate the results and benefits of mechanical treatment 

 of conifer stands. The first set shows before and after photos of mechanical treatment currently 

 being done. The second page shows the results of the August, 1996 Ackerson Fire in the 

 Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in treated and untreated stands. The 

 treated stand was used as a control line from which to backfire and contain the spread of the fire 

 in that area, saving Camp Mather, a facility owned by the City and County of San Francisco that 

 is used for recreation by its citizens. 



This concludes my prepared statement. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. 



o 



