The Biden administration has proposed restricting logging within old-growth forests to ensure millions of acres are conserved.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service submitted a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed plan amendment to the federal register on June 20.
Specifically, the proposed amendment would modify all 128 forest land management plans to protect the country’s remaining old-growth trees, providing a more consistent framework that prioritizes old-growth conservation and restoration, according to a press release from the White House.
Exceptions would be made in cases where such trees need to be cut down in order to reduce fuel hazards, to protect public health and safety, or for “culturally significant uses,” among others….