The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a proposal to amend all 128 forest land management plans across the country, aiming to conserve and steward old-growth forest conditions on national forests and grasslands.
Old-growth forests play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and climate-resilient ecosystem. They are known for their capacity to store large amounts of carbon, enhance biodiversity, mitigate wildfire risks, and provide subsistence and cultural uses. Moreover, these forests offer outdoor recreational opportunities and contribute to sustainable local economic development.
Land management plans guide the management of national forests and grasslands covering diverse uses, including conservation. The proposed amendment seeks to provide consistent direction related to old-growth forest conditions across national forests and grasslands, using the best available science, including Indigenous Knowledge.
In June 2022, Secretary Vilsack responded to President Biden’s Executive Order to conserve and restore old and mature forests, directing the USDA Forest Service to take action to address climate change impacts, restore forests, and support forest resilience.
Among these actions is the first-ever nationwide inventory of old-growth and mature forests across national forests and grasslands. Launched on Earth Day 2023, the initial inventory report revealed that the Forest Service manages nearly 25 million acres of old growth and more than 68 million acres of mature forests on national forests and grasslands. The USDA’s proposal applies exclusively to lands managed by the USDA Forest Service.
Additionally, the USDA introduced the Climate Risk Viewer, a tool designed to assess climate risks and vulnerabilities on national forests and grasslands. Additional actions are underway, including a threat analysis on mature and old-growth forests and a proposed new national policy for monitoring the health of national forests and grasslands.
The proposed nationwide forest plan amendment aims to provide consistent management direction. It includes place-based strategies for old-growth forest conservation and management, developed in collaboration with Tribal communities and local stakeholders. These strategies will be adaptive to the unique opportunities and challenges of a particular area, allowing for more flexibility in responding to rapid changes in wildfire behavior, drought, insects, and disease. The amendment would prohibit vegetation management within old-growth forest conditions when the primary purpose is to grow, tend, harvest, or regenerate trees for economic reasons.
The USDA initiated scoping on this proposal as a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in the Federal Register. The Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate the effects of a national land management plan amendment.
During the amendment process, proposed management actions in old-growth forests will be governed by an interim policy, outlined in a letter from the deputy chief of the National Forest System to regional foresters.
Public comments on the proposal can be submitted via webform or hard copy letters no later than February 2, 2024. This move marks a significant step towards protecting and conserving the nation’s old-growth forests, which play a vital role in combating climate change and preserving biodiversity.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.