The public has a second chance to protect our last remaining old-growth forests. On June 21, 2024, the US Forest Service published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), a study of five alternatives for implementing Executive Order 14072, issued by President Biden on Earth Day 2022, which directs the USFS and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect old-growth forests on federal public lands, including the Hoosier National Forest. The publication of this DEIS begins a 90-day public comment period, with comments accepted until September 20.
This is an historic opportunity to provide meaningful protections to the last of our old-growth forests. More than half a million Americans participated in the first round of public comments to produce this DEIS. We hope to see another half million people calling for genuine protections.
We are calling for all IFA supporters to submit comments on the EIS stating:
- Eastern Deciduous forests are part of this important plan amendment. They have to be considered as an endangered ecosystem and different from those in the west.
- Mature growth must be allowed to grow to old growth status to adhere to the EO 14072.
- Mature and Old growth (MOG) stands must be treated differently than younger age classes because of their unique characteristics and importance.
- All current projects with MOG growth must be paused until such time as the amendments can be made to their respective forest plans.
Please use this link to submit a public comment on the DEIS.
Click on the folder labeled “How to Submit Comments on the DEIS” to find instructions for submitting your public comment to the DEIS for “Land Management Plan Direction for Old-Growth Forest Conditions Across the National Forest System.”
Comments will be accepted on the DEIS through September 20, 2024.
IFA is developing our own comments which we will release soon. Stay tuned for more information.
