Rule Change Leaves Millions of Acres of Old-Growth Forests Open to Destruction!
Mature and old-growth forests are essential to healthy ecosystems, climate resilience, and a livable planet—we should not be cutting them down!
But a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) rule change made in the closing days of the Trump administration eliminated a long-standing protection—the “Eastside Screens”—for a vast stretch of mature and old-growth forests in eastern Oregon and Washington. These rules had prohibited the logging of trees larger than 21 inches in diameter.
In June, Great Old Broads for Wilderness partnered with the Greater Hells Canyon Council, Oregon Wild, Central Oregon LandWatch, WildEarth Guardians, and the Sierra Club to file a lawsuit in federal court to stop this possible destruction of more than 7 million acres of irreplaceable forest.
The lawsuit alleges that the decision violated the National Environmental Policy Act and National Forest Management Act. The coalition has also notified the USFS of our intent to enforce Endangered Species Act protections for fish and wildlife that depend on older forests.
Speak out to protect these ancient Northwest forests from short-sighted and completely unnecessary destruction!
