For decades, the U.S. Forest Service has been conducting large logging projects on public lands, telling the public that these mechanical thinning and post-fire logging timber sales will curb and stop wildfires so they will not reach towns. But several major wildfire tragedies and a lot of new science over the past decade have shown the Forest Service’s approach to be not just misguided and ineffective, but counter-productive and dangerous. Dr. Chad Hanson, wildfire scientist with the John Muir Project and author of the book “Smokescreen” will discuss why the focus of the Forest Service and Congress on logging mature and old trees, and post-fire clearcutting in forest wildlands is putting communities at greater risk. Dr. Hanson will describe a different path forward, one that will be far better for forest ecosystems, and will help save homes and lives from wildfires.