No phenomenon can be isolated but has repercussions through every aspect of our lives. We are learning that we are a fundamental part of nature's ecosystems.

As the GAO report recognizes the long-term health of our forests relies on additional fuel reduction options and funding to reduce the risks that catastrophic fire poses to our nation's ecosystems communities and federal budgetary resources.

The damage that climate change is causing and that will get worse if we fail to act goes beyond the hundreds of thousands of lives homes and businesses lost ecosystems destroyed species driven to extinction infrastructure smashed and people inconvenienced.