US Forest Service Chief With Industry Ties Pushed for More Logging on Public Lands
This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Donald Trump this month announced plans to rescind a landmark rule that has protected old-growth forests in the US for 25 years. If finalized, the rollback is expected to benefit the companies that Tom Schultz, chief of the US Forest Service, […]
The United States Forest Service Chief, Tom Schultz, who has ties to the timber industry, has advocated for increased logging on public lands. This push comes after President Donald Trump announced plans to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, also known as the "roadless rule," which has been in place for 25 years. The rule protects roughly 45 million acres of national forests from development.
Schultz, who previously represented timber industry interests as a lobbyist and executive, believes that the rule is outdated and that active forest management is essential for reducing wildfire risk and ensuring the long-term health of forests and surrounding communities. However, critics argue that the rule helps protect 400 threatened and endangered species and their ecosystems, as well as mitigate the risk of wildfires. They also worry that opening up more land to logging and development could exacerbate these issues.
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