
On December 20, 2023, the Biden Administration issued an extraordinary call for the public to comment on a sweeping plan to preserve mature and old growth trees in an effort to keep carbon tied up in our national forests. If the US Forest Service follows through with this directive, Hoosiers stand to benefit in two important ways:
- Current plans to burn, spray and log parts of the Hoosier National Forest that are mature and near old growth may be dropped or reduced.
- Mature trees will continue to sequester carbon, thus keeping it out of the atmosphere.
The Forest Service needs to hear from YOU! HEC urges all its members and allies to send your comments to the Forest Service by February 2, and here is guidance on how to do that.
The Issue
The US Secretary of Agriculture, who oversees all national forests, is asking the public to comment on a plan to amend all national forest management plans to reduce timber harvests, particularly of mature and near old growth trees, by recognizing the ecological services over the timber value in these forests.
Impact on the Hoosier National Forest
There are three massive projects in the Hoosier National Forest (HNF), in various stages of action or planning, that could be affected if the HNF Management Plan is amended. Together, these “restoration” projects would log 12,000 acres and burn 32,000 acres over 12 years, primarily in an effort to keep oak and hickory as the dominant canopy species. Yet, between 33 and 60 percent of the forests in these project areas are considered mature or old growth hardwoods. It is likely some or all of these forest areas could be protected if the HNF Management Plan is amended in accordance with the Administration’s new emphasis.
What You Can Do
- Learn more: Read the USDA “Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.”
- Share your thoughts: write and submit your comments to the USDA. Consider these points in your comments:
- Tell the USDA to restore old growth forests in the HNF and other national forests
- Leave mature forests alone – there is no way to hurry along the process that nature has to create an old growth forest, but there are many ways humans can thwart such natural ecological succession
- Stop burning central hardwood forests. There no evidence fire was ever a significant disturbing influence within our forests
- Stop logging mature hardwood forests
- Submit your comments: you can submit your comments online, or by mailing them to:
Director, Ecosystem Management Coordination
201 14th St SW, Mailstop 1108
Washington D.C. 20250-1124