Forest Service chief faces scrutiny over logging ties as Trump plans to scrap protections
Summary
President Donald Trump has announced plans to remove the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a 25-year-old protection for US old-growth forests. Tom Schultz, the head of the US Forest Service and a former timber industry lobbyist, supports this rollback, which would allow more road building, drilling, and logging in protected forest areas.Key Facts
- The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was created in 2001 to protect about 45 million acres of national forest from development.
- President Trump plans to cancel this rule, potentially opening protected forests to logging, drilling, and new roads.
- Tom Schultz, Forest Service chief, previously worked for timber industry groups that would benefit from lifting the protections.
- Schultz claims the rollback will help reduce wildfire risks and improve forest health through “active forest management,” which includes thinning forests by logging.
- Environmental studies warn the change could threaten 400 endangered species and harm ecosystems.
- Schultz is the first Forest Service chief without prior agency experience, coming from industry and state government roles.
- Many officials in the Trump administration have industry backgrounds, including the energy and interior departments.
- Some industry groups say the current forest management policy is too strict and hinders wildfire prevention efforts.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
