1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

Trump's attempt to rollback forest protections and ramp up logging under the guise of wildfire prevention is deeply concerning. His administration's directive overrides important environmental safeguards and public input processes in a misguided push for increased timber harvesting from national forests. Rather than addressing the root causes of worsening wildfires like climate change, this policy prioritizes short-term industry interests over long-term ecological health. Experts warn that this logging expansion could devastate sensitive forest ecosystems and undermine efforts to curb emissions from deforestation and habitat loss. Furthermore, the administration provides no evidence that dramatically increased logging would effectively mitigate wildfire risks. In fact, many forests facing the highest fire dangers are struggling due to drought, insect infestations, and other impacts of a warming climate - issues that cannot be solved through commercial logging alone. We urge Congress to pass legislation reining in this abuse of emergency powers and reinstating rigorous environmental reviews for logging projects on public lands. Our national forests provide invaluable ecological services like carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, and water filtration that will be jeopardized if unsustainable logging practices are allowed to proliferate unchecked. Protecting these natural treasures for future generations must take precedence over the unsupported claims driving this damaging rollback of forest safeguards.