In order to support climate solutions on our public lands, The Lands Council has signed on to a letter with over 50 local and national organization to urge the Biden administration, the Bureau of Land Management, and United States Forest Service to conserve mature and old growth forests. "Protecting and regrowing carbon-rich forests on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands represents one of the most important and cost effective near-term climate solutions we have at our disposal." These forest are also key in preventing the loss of biodiversity including iconic wildlife species that we all cherish.
Earth Day NGO Sign-on Letter: Conserve Old Forests, Fight Climate Change
We, the undersigned, call on President Biden to support a strong, lasting rule across federal public lands that conserves mature and old-growth trees and forests. These imperiled and carbon-rich forests must be protected as a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy.
Taking administrative action to halt the logging of older forests on federal lands can and should be an enduring legacy of the Biden administration that will help the U.S. mitigate and adapt to the current and future impacts of climate change.
Conserving all remaining mature and old-growth trees and forests on public lands is directly in line with several stated objectives of the Biden administration, including the Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. It is critical that the U.S. follows through on its domestic and international climate commitments by taking strong action to conserve older forests and trees.
These same areas are also home to many of America’s most iconic wildlife species. Many at-risk species depend on mature and old-growth forests and trees, and establishing permanent protections will preserve their essential habitat in addition to storing and sequestering more carbon — a strategy that is also aligned with the Biden administration’s goal to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters from development by 2030.
Protecting and regrowing carbon-rich forests on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands represents one of the most important and cost effective near-term climate solutions we have at our disposal. These trees store and continue to absorb vast amounts of carbon in addition to providing clean drinking water, critical wildlife habitat, and world-class recreational opportunities. Large, old trees are also the most fire resilient, so protecting them is complementary with efforts to protect communities from the risk of fire.
Unfortunately, these vital forests are still subject to logging. We need to ensure America's remaining mature and old-growth trees and forests remain in place to safeguard against future impacts from climate change, and to ensure that they remain intact for future generations. We call on you to support a strong, durable rule across federal public lands that protects our remaining mature and old-growth trees and forests from avoidable logging and promotes the prompt recovery of old-growth forests that have been lost.