US Makes , Promise to Conserve , Old-Growth Forests .
On December 19, the Biden administration committed to
conserving old-growth trees in national forests across the
United States as the impact of climate change intensifies.
On December 19, the Biden administration committed to
conserving old-growth trees in national forests across the
United States as the impact of climate change intensifies.
ABC reports that those threats include more
frequent and intense wildfires, invasive
insects and succumbing to disease.
According to Agriculture Secretary
Tom Vilsack, the agency would adopt an
"ecologically-driven" approach to old forests. .
According to Agriculture Secretary
Tom Vilsack, the agency would adopt an
"ecologically-driven" approach to old forests. .
That approach will reportedly include the first
nationwide amendment to U.S. Forest Service
plans since the agency was founded 118 years ago.
The announcement comes following longstanding
calls from environmentalists to preserve
old forests that provide critical habitat for wildlife. .
Their efforts have been opposed by the timber industry
which has fought against restrictions placed
on logging rights in government-owned lands.
ABC reports that the Biden administration's
latest efforts appear to aim for a middle
ground between the two sides.
ABC reports that the Biden administration's
latest efforts appear to aim for a middle
ground between the two sides.
The new plan significantly limits commercial timber
harvests in old-growth forests, while still allowing logging
in "mature forests" that are not yet at the old-growth stage.
The new plan significantly limits commercial timber
harvests in old-growth forests, while still allowing logging
in "mature forests" that are not yet at the old-growth stage.
This creates a commitment
to resiliency, a commitment to
restore and protect the existing
old growth that we have
from the threats that we see, Tom Vilsack, United States Agriculture Secretary, via ABC.
A series of wildfires over recent years have
highlighted the urgency of the issue, destroying
thousands of old-growth sequoia trees. .
A series of wildfires over recent years have
highlighted the urgency of the issue, destroying
thousands of old-growth sequoia trees.
