Forest Service Initiative Would Conserve and Restore Old-Growth Forests

On Feb. 2, The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service regarding the conservation and restoration of old-growth forests. After centuries of logging and, more recently, a spate of large and severe wildfires, these ecologically important forests account for less than 17% of the forested lands that the agency manages. Pew’s letter expressed support for and recommended improvements to the Forest Service’s preliminary proposal, which would amend all 128 of its national forest management plans and empower each manager to develop local solutions to promote the ecological integrity of important forested ecosystems and to support the communities and Tribes that benefit from them.

Specifically, under the initial proposal, Forest Service plans would:

• Incorporate consistent direction to conserve existing old-growth forests into each forest plan.
• Establish a clear role for Indigenous knowledge and Tribal leadership in proactive stewardship of old-growth forests.
• Direct forest managers to collaborate with Tribes and communities to develop locally appropriate strategies for improving overall forest health and integrity through restoration of old-growth forests.
• Create a national monitoring network to track trends in old-growth forest conditions to inform adaptive management. 
• Support the implementation of the agency’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy by enhancing forests’ resilience to wildfire through the restoration of healthy old-growth forests.

The agency will next release a draft proposal and draft environmental impact statement for public review and comment.