Forests can help save us from the climate crisis- especially our nation’s mature and old-growth forests. But mature forests on federal lands are under threat by timber companies.

These vital forests fight climate change by removing climate pollution and storing carbon naturally, protect drinking water for our communities, and provide habitat for at-risk wildlife.

When these mature trees are logged and processed, much of their stored carbon is rapidly released — and recapturing it through forest regrowth takes decades or centuries. But the climate crisis is upon us now. We do not have decades or centuries to regrow forests.

Earlier this year, President Biden thankfully issued an executive order recognizing the importance of mature and old-growth forests in the fight against climate change. It was a welcome move, but urgent follow-up action is needed to ensure these climate-critical forests are meaningfully protected from logging.

Urge the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to follow the President’s lead and implement a strong rule that protects mature forests on federal lands.