Heinrich, Colleagues Urge Agriculture Department to Update Management of Old-Growth Forests, Incorporate Historic Indigenous Practices
Letter: “This amendment is a step forward in conserving and restoring our irreplaceable cultural and biological old-growth forest heritage, improving the overall health of our national forests, and addressing the Wildfire Crisis”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined Senate colleagues in encouraging federal officials to finalize a Forest Service amendment that would update the management of old-growth forests, and incorporate modern science and historic Indigenous practices that would protect forests from the effects of climate change, including wildfires and biodiversity loss.
With more than two centuries of logging, over a century of fire suppression, and decades of increasing effects from the climate crisis, older forests are dwindling.
“Monitoring of these forests must also account for the climate benefit these forests provide by assessing the amount of carbon they capture and sequester,” the senators wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The United States is an international leader in natural climate solutions, and this amendment provides an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of improved forest management and conservation for the rest of the world.”
The National Old Growth Amendment process is the result of Executive Order 14072 Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies issued by President Biden on April 22, 2022. On December 19, 2023, USDA announced its intent to amend all national forest land management plans to conserve and steward old-growth forest conditions and recruit future old-growth conditions.
“This amendment is a step forward in conserving and restoring our irreplaceable cultural and biological old-growth forest heritage, improving the overall health of our national forests, and addressing the Wildfire Crisis,” the lawmakers continued. “We encourage you to prioritize development and completion of the Forest Service’s nationwide forest plan amendment, including continued robust engagement with Congress, Tribal Nations, and the public.”
The letter was led by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
Alongside Heinrich, the letter was signed byU.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Michael Bennet, (D-Colo.), Gary Peters, (D-Mich.), and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.).
The full text of the letter is here.
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