Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Biden abandons old-growth forest protections
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Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Old Growth Forest, Oswald West State Park, Oregon; USFWS/Flickr ([link removed])
The Biden administration on Tuesday abruptly dropped ([link removed]) its plan to protect old-growth forests after getting pushback from the timber industry. The move was announced by U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore in a letter to forest supervisors, according to the Associated Press ([link removed]) .
President Joe Biden issued an executive order in 2022 ([link removed]) , which called for better management of the nation's forests. The order called for the first-ever inventory of old-growth and mature forests on federal lands. That inventory was released in 2023 ([link removed]) and found that more than 100 million acres of old-growth and mature timberlands are still standing on public lands. At the same time, the Forest Service began a rulemaking process ([link removed]) to improve the climate resilience of federally managed forests. The public comment period on the proposal garnered over half a million comments
([link removed]) in support of protecting mature and old-growth trees from logging.
The Forest Service ultimately proposed a rule that would have limited logging in old-growth forests ([link removed]) , with exceptions to allow logging in some old-growth areas to protect against wildfires. Both environmentalists and the timber industry were unhappy ([link removed]) with the proposal.
In his letter ([link removed]) , Forest Service Chief Moore said that much was learned from the old-growth amendment process, despite the disappointing outcome. “There is strong support for, and an expectation of us, to continue to conserve these forests based on the best available scientific information,” Moore wrote. ([link removed]) “There was also feedback that there are important place-based differences that we will need to understand in order to conserve old-growth forests.”
Weather delays CA monument designations
Dangerously high winds threw a wrench ([link removed]) in President Joe Biden's plan to designate two new national monuments in California on Tuesday. The president was originally set to make remarks in the eastern Coachella Valley, but the event was changed at the last minute to take place at the White House next week ([link removed]) . The White House released details ([link removed]) about the monument designations Tuesday morning, ahead of the rescheduled event.
** Quick hits
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Biden announces two new national monuments in California, cementing conservation legacy
Reuters ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | ABC 10 ([link removed]) | Desert Sun ([link removed]) | NPR ([link removed])
Westerman takes aim at new California monuments
E&E News ([link removed])
Opinion: Why the U.S. got no old growth forest protections from the Biden administration
Mongabay ([link removed])
Federal judge rules BLM has broad ‘discretion’ over oil and gas leasing
Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])
Study: Farmers could be the ‘heroes’ who save the Great Salt Lake
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Inside Climate News ([link removed]) | Land Desk ([link removed])
New technology is helping communities measure impact of outdoor recreation
Boise State Public Radio ([link removed])
Ranchers hit Colorado Parks and Wildlife with $580,000 in claims for livestock impacted by wolves
KUNC ([link removed])
It's good to be a California beaver, again
Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Sáttítla Highlands National Monument is a victory not just for Tribal Nations but for every American who understands the value of clean water, healthy lands, and preserving the true history of these United States of America. These designations demonstrate what is possible when we center Indigenous leadership.”
—Yatch Bamford, Chair of the Pit River Nation, E&E News ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@protectcadesert ([link removed])
We are celebrating Chuckwalla National Monument! Thanks, President Joe Biden for listening to Tribes, elected officials, businesses, & local community members. This designation:
⛰️ Honors Tribal Sovereignty
↗️ Boosts the Local Economy
🥾 Ensures Equitable Access to Nature
📸Bob Wick | Bradshaw Trail
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