Millions of Acres of U.S. Forests Opened for Timber Production Amidst Fire Risk Concerns
In a recent move aimed at addressing escalating wildfire risks, the U.S. Agriculture Department has opened millions of acres of national forests for timber production. This decision follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last month.
The Secretary of Agriculture has declared an emergency in nearly 60% of the nation’s forested lands, including the three national forests located in Michigan, as outlined in the official declaration.
This emergency declaration leverages federal law provisions that allow such measures to be enacted in order to protect public health and safety. The USDA has cited a crisis situation in federal forests, primarily due to heightened risks of disease and wildfires.
A 2023 report highlights that approximately 67 million acres of U.S. Forest Service lands face high or very high wildfire risk. A significant portion of these lands is located in the western United States, as shown in a recently published map.
Furthermore, USDA data indicates that almost 79 million acres are vulnerable to insects and disease, with about 34 million acres at risk from both threats.
The memo, disseminated on Thursday, outlines strategies to mitigate wildfire risks, such as removing dead or damaged trees. It also emphasizes the increase of domestic timber production on federal lands.
According to the National Association of State Foresters, federal ownership accounts for roughly 30% of the forested land in the United States, while the majority is under private ownership, as per forest ownership statistics.
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