Environment North Carolina launches outreach campaign to protect North Carolina’s oldest forests

Raleigh, North Carolina — The United States Forest Service is considering a major shift in the way it manages old-growth forests across the country, including in North Carolina. Campaign staff with Environment North Carolina will soon be knocking on doors in neighborhoods across Chapel Hill to talk about threats to our oldest forests and encourage people to get involved.

“Our most special forests are mature and old-growth forests. These trees have been standing for longer than most people have been alive,” said Will Sherwood. “But more than 50 million acres of these forests on federal lands across the country are not protected from logging. We’re knocking on doors this summer to build support to change that.”

The Biden administration announced in December a proposed national forest plan amendment, which will change policies for managing old-growth forests across the National Forest System. The amendment could protect the last remaining old-growth trees in national forests by adding new safeguards against logging. This action is a step toward fulfilling the promise of President Joe Biden’s April 2022 Executive Order, which directs the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior to address threats to mature and old-growth forests on federal lands and develop policies to conserve them. Old-growth and mature forests provide homes for thousands of species, recreational opportunities for hikers and birders and they absorb and store massive amounts of carbon.

“Our forests are allies in the fight against climate change. Setting aside the oldest, biggest trees to act as natural climate solutions is a smart move,” said Field Manager Amelia Farrell. “Trees absorb carbon for free – no assembly required. We just have to let them grow.”

The Forest Service is expected to hold a 90-day comment period this summer to receive feedback from the public on old-growth management practices in national forests.