Protect mature forests and trees to fight the climate crisis

We need mature forests and trees to fight climate change. But mature and old-growth forests on federal lands are threatened by on-going logging, in spite of President Biden’s executive order to conserve them. We need strong, permanent protections for mature forests and trees to mitigate climate change and to maintain their natural benefits for generations to come.

Tell the Forest Service to create strong protections for our mature forests and trees

We need forests to fight the climate crisis. But mature and old-growth forests on federal lands and trees are threatened by on-going logging.

When mature trees are cut down and processed, much of their stored carbon is rapidly released – and recapturing carbon through forest regrowth takes decades or even centuries. But climate change is upon us now – we don’t have time to regrow forests.

After the Biden administration listened to activists like you to protect mature forests, the Forest Service is now accepting public comments on a range of conservation issues, including mature forest and tree protection. To build upon our momentum and align with President Biden’s executive order recognizing the importance of mature forests in the fight against climate change, we must ensure mature forests and trees are protected from logging.

Tell the Forest Service to fulfill the promise of President Biden’s executive order by creating strong, permanent protections for mature forests and trees on federal lands.

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Your Message

Subject Create a strong, permanent rule that robustly protects mature forests

Dear Director Swanston:

Message Body

I welcomed President Biden’s executive order directing the conservation of mature forests. Now I’m calling on the Forest Service to align with the executive order and to act boldly by creating a strong, permanent regulation that protects mature and old-growth forests and trees across federal public lands from logging.

Safeguarding and expanding carbon-rich forests on federal lands is one of the most important, cost-effective, and timely ways to fight the climate crisis. Mature trees store and absorb vast amounts of carbon pollution, as well as provide the public with clean drinking water, habitat for imperiled wildlife, and world-class recreation.

Mature forests and trees are also generally more fire resistant, and a protective regulation could readily allow for necessary efforts to address the risk of fire.

Unfortunately, these essential mature forests and trees on federal lands continue to be threatened by logging, in spite of the executive order to conserve them. We need to ensure America’s mature forests are protected to mitigate climate change and to maintain their natural benefits for generations to come.

Please do everything in your power to create a strong, permanent rule to save mature forests and trees.

Thank you.

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