The Trump administration has launched an aggressive plan to increase logging across more than 100 million acres of U.S. national forests. Framed as a response to an emergency in timber supply and wildfire risk, the executive order directs forest managers to bypass environmental safeguards and increase logging volume by 25%.
But scientists and conservationists see through the spin. As Dr. Dominick DellaSala, Chief Scientist at Wild Heritage, told The Seattle Times, “There is no emergency — this is part of the grift.”
Old-growth and mature forests — many of which are now in the crosshairs — are some of the most effective natural tools we have for combating climate change. These trees store vast amounts of carbon and provide irreplaceable habitat for species like the northern spotted owl. Logging them releases carbon, fragments ecosystems, and undercuts efforts to protect biodiversity and slow climate change.
DellaSala et al. 2022 peer-reviewed study found that preserving the largest trees in national forests could offset nearly 10% of annual U.S. fossil fuel emissions. This new logging agenda moves us further from climate goals, not closer.
What’s more, real wildfire resilience doesn’t come from logging old-growth in remote areas. It comes from thinning smaller trees near communities, creating defensible space, and restoring fire-adapted ecosystems — none of which are addressed by this order.
At Wild Heritage, we are committed to defending science-based forest protections and calling out dangerous policies disguised as solutions. Our forests are not a short-term resource to be exploited — they are climate stabilizers, biodiversity sanctuaries, and public treasures.
👉 Read the full article in The Seattle Times to learn what’s at stake.