The Biden administration is moving forward with its plan to limit logging in old-growth forests facing threats from climate change. The plan includes exceptions for cutting trees to reduce wildfire risk, as revealed in a U.S. government analysis obtained by The Associated Press.
The analysis, set to be published on Friday, indicates that officials will not impose a complete ban on old-growth logging, a demand long made by environmentalists. The reasoning behind rejecting a blanket prohibition is to make it easier to thin forests for better protection against worsening wildfires due to climate change.
Forest Service Deputy Chief Chris French emphasized the need for proactive management to safeguard old-growth forests from wildfires and pests. He stressed that without some level of thinning in these forests, there is a risk of losing more trees.
People are also reading…
The proposed exceptions for logging are unlikely to satisfy the timber industry and Republican lawmakers, who oppose new restrictions. French, however, stated that the impact on timber companies would be minimal.
French explained, “The amount of timber sales in old growth forests is minimal, so the overall effects are insignificant.”
The U.S. timber industry currently employs approximately 860,000 people, a decrease of about 30% from 2001. Changes in policies, lumber markets, and other factors have led to a shift in timber harvesting to private and state lands in recent years.
The planned changes regarding old-growth forests signal a shift for the agency, which has historically promoted logging. The finalization of these changes is expected before President Biden’s term ends in January and follows his 2022 executive order instructing the USDA to protect old-growth forests.
The urgency to protect old-growth forests is underscored by wildfires that have caused significant damage, including the loss of thousands of giant sequoias in recent years.
While most old-growth forests in the U.S. have been lost to logging over the centuries, some ancient trees remain in various regions. The proposed changes would limit old-growth timber harvests in places like the Tongass National Forest.
A recently finalized report highlighted wildfires, insects, and disease as major threats to old-growth forests since 2000, with logging on federal lands accounting for a small fraction of tree losses. This data has been used by timber industry representatives to argue against further restrictions.
Environmentalists are calling for stronger measures to protect old-growth forests, especially in states like Oregon, South Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.
While some view the proposal as a positive step, others believe more action is needed to ensure the preservation and restoration of resilient old-growth forests in the face of climate change.
Government surveys have identified significant areas of old-growth forests on federal lands, along with mature forests that have yet to reach old-growth status. Conservation efforts are critical to protect these forests from potential logging activities.
Environmental advocates have pushed for stronger protections for mature trees to ensure the growth of new old-growth forests. Without such protections, the continuity of old-growth forests remains at risk.
Under the previous administration, efforts were made to open up vast forest areas for logging, but these were reversed in 2021 due to concerns about the impact on vital habitats like those of the northern spotted owl.