President Bush announced his new Healthy Forest Initiative while on a trip to Oregon to see damage caused by wildfires in the area.
His action follows one of the worst fire seasons in modern history with more than 5.9 million acres burned this year, 20 firefighters killed and more than 2,000 homes destroyed.
Aims of the initiative include stepping up efforts to prevent wildfire damage by reducing unnecessary regulatory obstacles that hinder active forest management.
The Bush administration will work with Congress to pass legislation that addresses the unhealthy forest crisis by expediting procedures for forest thinning and restoration projects. It also intends to fulfil the promise of the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan to ensure sustainable forest management and appropriate timber production.
Environment groups are critical of the proposals, saying the wildfires are being used to justify increased logging.
