Ohhhh, NOW I understand where Trump got his idea to “rake the forests.” It feels like the authors of this Project would have gotten a lot further in selling it to the public if they hadn’t chosen such a laughably stupid figurehead to publicly explain their policies. Seriously, if he understood biomass reduction as “raking the forest”, imagine how facile his grasp on other major issues must be?

Nevertheless, this is an idea I can get behind (no, not raking the forests.) The U.S. Forest Service already engages in biomass removal as part of its forest management activities, particularly to reduce the risk of wildfires. This process, known as fuel reduction, involves thinning forests, removing dead or dying trees, and managing undergrowth (live fuels) that can contribute to the intensity and spread of wildfires. Many (apparently including Bakst, here), argue that they could do more to address biomass buildup and help prevent wildfires.

Full contextual analysis of Section 3.1: Department of Agriculture here.