NWTF Comments on Old Growth — Mature Forest Amendment
Last night, more than 6.5 million wild turkeys across the nation spent the night in a tree. Mature and old-growth trees are a vital habitat requirement, as are young-growth patches and grassy openings.
Wild turkeys need a diverse and dynamic ecosystem to thrive. The proposed amendment to the USDA Forest Service’s Forest Plans and the BLM’s Land Management Plans, puts a higher priority on protecting older trees vs. managing them in spite of research and historical data that show healthy forest ecosystems of all age classes need periodic disturbances, such as logging, mechanical thinning, and prescribed burning, to promote resilience to disease, insects and natural fire.
As an implementer of the Forest Service’s Wildfire Crisis Strategy, where we work to bolster forest health through on-the-ground conservation and restoration efforts, the NWTF responded through an organizational letter submitted to the Federal Registry on February 1 as part of the public comment phase of the proposed amendment.
The NWTF also co-authored and signed on to a coalition-wide letter signed by 32 partner conservation organizations concerned with the health and vitality of our national forests.
