At the behest of the Biden administration, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is considering whether or not to adopt a new rule called the National Old-Growth Amendment (NOGA) that could, if the final version is strong enough, protect most of the remaining ancient trees in America’s National Forests from logging. We urge you to make your voice heard by September 20th by urging the USFS to end all old-growth logging.
Unfortunately, the USFS’ Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the NOGA does not do enough to protect ancient trees from ongoing threats like commercial logging. The few ancient trees in California’s twenty National Forests are our most fire-resistant and resilient remaining trees, are essential to sustaining our water quality, provide critical habitat for wildlife and plant species as they deal with the stresses of a warming planet and habitat loss, and help us fight climate change. Please urge the USFS to adopt a strong final version of NOGA by THIS FRIDAY, September 20th.
CLICK HERE for instructions on how to submit comments.
Here is text for your letter:
Dear U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore:
I’m writing to urge you to select an alternative in the final version of the National Old-Growth Amendment (NOGA) process that, with only very limited exceptions, prohibits the cutting of remaining old-growth trees in all National Forests. The few remaining ancient trees in California’s twenty National Forests are our most fire-resistant and resilient remaining trees, are essential to sustaining water quality, provide critical habitat for wildlife and plant species as they deal with the stresses of a warming planet and habitat loss, and help us fight climate change. Unfortunately, none of the alternatives offered in the NOGA Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are sufficiently protective of our remaining ancient trees. Please act decisively to develop and select an alternative in the Final NOGA EIS that prohibits the cutting of all remaining old-growth trees except for addressing safety concerns and for other such very limited purposes.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
