The Biden administration is revising U.S. national forest and grassland management plans to protect old-growth trees from climate change-induced threats like wildfires, insects, and disease. This significant ecological shift marks the U.S. Forest Service’s first nationwide amendment in its 118-year history, veering away from traditional logging-dominated approaches.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the initiative’s focus on ecological resilience and protection, addressing long-standing environmentalist demands for older forest conservation. These forests, including California’s iconic giant sequoia groves, are vital for wildlife habitat and carbon storage, which is critical in mitigating climate change effects.
The plan seeks to balance environmental concerns and commercial interests by restricting timber harvests in old-growth areas, while allowing some logging in mature forests not yet classified as old-growth. The categorization of “old” varies across tree species and is influenced by environmental factors.
While the proposal has faced skepticism from the timber industry and some lawmakers, who prefer focusing on reducing wildfire risks, the administration argues for the urgency of protecting these ecologically significant areas. The success and longevity of this plan, expected to be finalized by early 2025, could hinge on the political landscape following the 2024 presidential election.
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