Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities

Biden abandons old-growth forest protections

Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Old Growth Forest, Oswald West State Park, Oregon; USFWS/Flickr

The Biden administration on Tuesday abruptly dropped 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

President Joe Biden issued an executive order in 2022, 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 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 to improve the climate resilience of federally managed forests. The public comment period on the proposal garnered over half a million comments 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, with exceptions to allow logging in some old-growth areas to protect against wildfires. Both environmentalists and the timber industry were unhappy with the proposal. 

In his letter, 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. “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 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. The White House released details about the monument designations Tuesday morning, ahead of the rescheduled event. 

Quick hits

Biden announces two new national monuments in California, cementing conservation legacy
Reuters | Associated Press | ABC 10 | Desert Sun | NPR
Westerman takes aim at new California monuments

E&E News

Opinion: Why the U.S. got no old growth forest protections from the Biden administration

Mongabay

Federal judge rules BLM has broad ‘discretion’ over oil and gas leasing

Wyoming Public Radio

Study: Farmers could be the ‘heroes’ who save the Great Salt Lake

Salt Lake Tribune | Inside Climate News | Land Desk

New technology is helping communities measure impact of outdoor recreation

Boise State Public Radio

Ranchers hit Colorado Parks and Wildlife with $580,000 in claims for livestock impacted by wolves

KUNC

It's good to be a California beaver, again

Los Angeles Times

Quote of the day

” 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

Picture This

@protectcadesert

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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