Without regular fires, Oregon's dry, east-side forests have grown much thicker. The unnaturally dense forests that exist today are more susceptible to insect and disease outbreaks and are fueling bigger, more intense wildfires that put nearby communities in danger.

An area of land can only support a certain amount of vegetative growth due to limitations of water and nutrients. Thinning allows the trees that are left behind to grow bigger, healthier and more fire resilient.

Part of a three part series.