BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Biden administration is moving forward with its plan to limit logging in old-growth forests that are increasingly at risk due to climate change. The plan includes exceptions for cutting trees to reduce the risk of wildfires, according to a U.S. government analysis obtained by The Associated Press.
The analysis, set to be released Friday, indicates that officials will not implement a complete ban on logging in old-growth forests as some environmentalists have requested. Officials believe that a blanket ban would make it harder to thin forests to protect communities from worsening wildfires.
Forest Service Deputy Chief Chris French stated, “To ensure the health of old-growth forests, proactive management is necessary to prevent wildfires, insects, and disease.” Without some level of thinning in these forests, more trees could be lost.
The exceptions allowing logging are unlikely to satisfy the timber industry and some members of Congress, who oppose new restrictions. French mentioned that the impact on timber companies would be minimal.
“There is very little timber harvesting taking place in old-growth forests, so the overall effects are minimal,” French said.
The U.S. timber industry employs approximately 860,000 people, which is 30% fewer than in 2001. Most of the work has shifted to private and state lands since the 1990s due to policies, changing markets, and other factors.
The proposed changes regarding old-growth forests signal a shift for an agency historically supportive of logging. They are expected to be finalized before the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January, following his 2022 executive order directing the USDA to protect old-growth forests nationwide.
The debate over the definition and management of old-growth forests was sparked by Biden’s order. These forests are crucial not only as natural wonders but also for storing carbon and combating climate change.
The urgency of the matter is highlighted by wildfires that have devastated giant sequoias in recent years. While much of the old-growth forests in the U.S. have been lost to logging over the centuries, some pockets remain in California, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska.
The analysis shows that wildfires, insects, and disease have caused significant damage to old-growth forests since 2000, while logging on federal lands has had a smaller impact. Industry representatives argue that additional restrictions are unnecessary.
Environmentalists are calling for more stringent measures to protect old-growth forests on federal lands. The proposed changes are seen as a step in the right direction, but more action is needed to address the challenges posed by climate change.
Government surveys have identified thousands of square miles of old-growth and mature forests on federal lands, with conservation efforts now receiving more emphasis over extractive industries like logging and energy development.
Environmentalists continue to push for protections for mature forests to ensure the preservation of old-growth forests for future generations.
Under the Trump administration, efforts were made to open up large areas of West Coast forests for logging, but these plans were reversed in 2021 following concerns about faulty science.
