** Trump administration opens "America's Amazon" to logging
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Thursday, October 29, 2020
Tongass National Forest, USDA ([link removed])

The Trump administration announced plans to open all 16.7 million acres of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to logging ([link removed]) , removing protections to conserve America’s largest intact temperate rainforest. The change immediately opens 9.3 million acres of old growth forest by reversing the 2001 “roadless rule” that had ensured the forest’s future.

Ironically, the Trump administration has been touting its recently proposed One Trillion Trees ([link removed]) initiative, but removing protections for the Tongass National Forest severely undermines that effort, not to mention that studies ([link removed]) find poorly planned large-scale tree planting initiatives can backfire, reducing biodiversity but not emissions.

The Tongass is one of America’s strongest defenses against climate change, absorbing at least 8 percent ([link removed]) of the carbon stored in the lower 48 states combined. Dominick DellaSala, chief scientist with the Earth Island Institute’s Wild Heritage project, said of the Tongass ([link removed]) , “While tropical rainforests are the lungs of the planet, the Tongass is the lungs of North America. It’s America’s last climate sanctuary.”

Proponents ([link removed]) say the decision will help the struggling economy in the Southeastern region of Alaska. However, logging in Alaska costs taxpayers millions each year because of a federal mandate ([link removed]) that companies must profit from any timber sale. In practice, this often requires the U.S. Forest Service to cover harvesters’ costs, including road construction. According to a Taxpayer for Common Sense analysis ([link removed]) , the Tongass timber program has lost roughly $1.7 billion over the last 40 years.


** Interactive storymap: urban conservation efforts
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Cities can address current environmental issues and injustices while also actively supporting biodiversity, climate mitigation, public health, and equitable access to nature. Urban parks and green spaces ([link removed]) are an effective way to accomplish these disparate but connected goals, and ensure the 30x30 goal is beneficial for all Americans. Explore the Center for Western Priorities' new interactive storymap ([link removed]) to learn more.
Quick hits


** Experts say Interior "propaganda" video may violate ethics laws
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The Hill ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Grasslands plagued by drought and invasive plant species like cheatgrass fuel wildfires across the West
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Wyoming Public Radio ([link removed])


** Interior extends popular program to get kids into parks after previously denying an extension
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USA Today ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Overwhelming public support for LWCF, public lands protections impacts election outcomes across the West
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Outside ([link removed])


** Trump administration opens "America's Amazon" to logging
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | Guardian ([link removed])


** Urban conservation efforts are important to reaching the 30x30 goal, supporting healthy communities
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Storymap ([link removed]) | Westwise (blog) ([link removed])


** "We move them out of the way," say Trump administration officials of career civil servants
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** BLM ordered to reconsider climate change impacts for large swath of Wyoming oil and gas leases
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Taking an axe to old-growth protections for the Tongass is among the most reckless and irresponsible of the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks. It's bad news for hunters and anglers, for the tourism and fishing industries in Alaska, and for anyone who cares about protecting our planet's biodiversity and climate."
—Adam Kolton ([link removed]) , executive director, Alaska Wilderness League
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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This brawny bison is too busy munching on breakfast to notice the gorgeous fall morning @WindCaveNPS ([link removed]) , #SouthDakota ([link removed])

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