Biden Administration Plans New Protections for U.S. Old-Growth Forests Threatened by Climate Change

The Biden administration identified over 175,000 square miles of old growth and mature forests on U.S. government lands and plans new rules to better protect them.
U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands combined contain over 50,000 square miles of old growth forests and about 125,000 square miles of mature forests, an area larger than California.
The proposed rule aims to adapt current policies to protect, conserve, and manage national forests and grasslands for climate resilience as older trees face increasing threats.
Environmental groups support new regulations limiting logging of older trees, while the timber industry calls for active management of environmentally sensitive areas.
Officials said the inventory and pending rule could lead to new restrictions on logging.