1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

This new logging policy for national forests is highly concerning. While timber production is important, prioritizing it over environmental protection is extremely shortsighted. Excessive logging threatens to permanently destroy irreplaceable natural resources and wildlife habitats that provide invaluable ecological benefits. There are more sustainable alternatives, like increased recycling of existing wood products and better utilization of industry byproducts, that could meet demand without risking such severe deforestation. The potential consequences of this policy, including biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and exacerbating climate change, are too grave to ignore. We urge a reconsideration of this reckless expansion of logging in favor of a balanced approach that safeguards our national forests for future generations.