Trump Orders US Forest Clearcutting: A National Environmental Disaster?
President Trump issued an executive order dramatically expanding logging across 280 million acres of US public lands, overriding endangered species protections to boost domestic timber production. This action prioritizes increased logging targets, even potentially accelerating projects under the guise of wildfire mitigation, despite scientific evidence suggesting this approach increases fire risk. Experts widely condemn the order as illegal and environmentally destructive, citing potential harm to endangered species and water quality. The appointment of a timber executive to head the Forest Service further underscores this industry-friendly shift. Critics fear this policy will lead to irreversible damage to America’s forests.
John Q. Hosedrinker