The Op-ed , “White House must redirect the Forest Service to preserve old forests” by Wild Heritage’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Dominick A. DellaSala, addresses the escalating global climate and biodiversity crises, emphasizing the urgent need for action as greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation threaten ecosystems. Climate events like intense hurricanes and wildfires illustrate the risks, yet climate change remains under-discussed in political arenas, with figures like former President Trump advocating fossil fuel expansion and Vice President Harris altering her stance on fracking.
Dr. DellaSala urges that as President Joe Biden approaches the end of his term, he has the opportunity to enhance his climate legacy by protecting mature and old-growth forests. These forests are crucial for carbon storage, water purification, and wildlife habitat, yet they remain at risk from proposed logging across the country. The Forest Service’s policies falsely justify logging as a means of forest management, despite evidence that it exacerbates wildfire risks and climate challenges.
Biden has made strides, such as restoring protections for 9 million acres in Alaska’s Tongass rainforest and committing to conserve 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. However, continued logging threatens over 50 million acres of older forests, which are vital for climate resilience. Dr. DellaSala calls on Biden to end commercial logging in these forests before leaving office, solidifying a legacy of commitment to climate action and forest protection that his successor, potentially Vice President Harris, could uphold.