Deforestation guised under the title of a "Harvest Operation" put into place by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has strained local forests in Richmond, RI. Forests are being stripped of large and healthy trees leaving the landscape relatively barren and scattered with dry brush, creating a potential fire hazard. The land has served as a hiking trail for residents for many years, but now lacks much of the scenery that makes it vibrant and beautiful. On a larger scale, deforestation is occurring at an alarming rate and has finally hit close to home in the Richmond area. There is little that any individual can do to speak out, so it is important that the community bands together to make a change before the so called operation spreads to larger areas and more forests are ruined.