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Trump Administration Expands Logging in National Forests Under Emergency Order

The directive removes environmental safeguards, increases timber quotas by 25%, and is framed as addressing wildfire risks, drawing sharp criticism from environmentalists.

Blaine Cook, a retired U.S. Forest Service forest management scientist, walks through a logging site in the Black Hills National Forest, on July 14, 2021, near Custer City, S.D. Cook said his monitoring work last decade showed too many trees were being cut from the forest. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
Cut down trees are visible at the site of a timber sale in the Tahoe National Forest, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, near Camptonville, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
In a move that could substantially reshape California’s natural landscape, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an emergency order Friday to accelerate timber harvesting across nearly 113 million acres of national forests.
A crew member uses a tree processor to strip bark and branches from logs before being transported to a mill, Tuesday, June 6, 2023, near Camptonville, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Overview

  • The Trump administration has issued an emergency order to accelerate logging across 176,000 square miles of U.S. national forests, citing a 'forest health crisis' caused by wildfires, insect infestations, and disease.
  • The directive removes National Environmental Policy Act processes, limits public objections to logging projects, and streamlines approvals to expedite timber harvests.
  • Timber quotas have been increased by 25% nationwide, with particular focus on forests in the West, California, the South, Great Lakes, and New England regions.
  • Environmental groups argue the policy prioritizes timber industry profits over ecological preservation and wildfire prevention, warning it could exacerbate climate change and harm wildlife habitats.
  • The initiative aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to expand domestic timber production, particularly in light of ongoing trade disputes with Canada and other nations.