With forest protection executive order, conservation groups finally feel heard by President Biden
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Ahead of President Biden signing an executive order to protect old-growth and mature forests, dozens of environmental groups sent a letter to the president affirming their support of the measure as a matter of leading by example as the U.S. looks to continue mitigating climate change. “Protecting mature forests and large trees on federal forestlands would set an important, highly visible example for other major forest-holding nations to follow as they address climate change threats. But it would also help stem the biodiversity crisis and secure for Americans the ecosystem benefits most valued from our public forests,” the letter noted.
The letter affirmed the president’s ability to make an executive order with an impact that could reverberate far beyond any incoming administration or subsequent attempts to dismantle such an act. Speaking with Center for Biological Diversity Public Lands Program Director Randi Spivak yesterday, Spivak pointed to the fact that many executive orders have stood the test of time because of what they’ve inspired. “If it directs the agencies to undertake a process and rule-making, rule-makings can be very, very durable,” Spivak said. “An administrative rule coming out of this administration, which is what I hope this executive order leads to, actually can be quite durable and stand the test of time.”
This order in particular addresses some of the concerns I had ahead of its release. The Biden administration has vowed to enact what the White House is calling “climate-smart stewardship” policies following a comprehensive inventory of old-growth and mature forests, the data on which will eventually be publicly available. This stewardship includes partnerships between the Interior Department, Agriculture Department, and “other federal agencies, states, Tribal Nations, and any interested private landowners to better coordinate conservation and wildfire risk reduction efforts”—which, of course, could address some of the bizarre complaints the anti-30×30 crowd may have about land use. Much of the information gleaned from the forest inventory will also be used for sustainable job opportunities and industries that further communities rather than forcing them to be reliant on more damaging industries like logging.
Climate Advisers CEO Nigel Purvis, who once worked in the State Department and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, hailed the executive order as a clear sign that President Biden was honoring campaign commitments. “Today’s pledge to mount a government-wide effort is encouraging. The President is saying all the right things; however, success will depend on delivering real action,” Purvis said in a statement. The order is an ambitious one and does extend to forests across the world. According to a White House fact sheet, the State Department will work with other agencies to not only combat global deforestation, but to center Indigenous and local communities in the fight to conserve and restore forests.