U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced new reforms aimed at protecting national forests and boosting domestic timber production. The reforms, outlined in a Secretarial Memo, designate an "Emergency Situation Determination" for 112,646,000 acres of National Forestry System land. This move follows President Donald J. Trump's executive order aimed at increasing American timber production by 25%.
"Healthy forests require work, and right now, we’re facing a national forest emergency. We have an abundance of timber at high risk of wildfires in our National Forests," Secretary Rollins stated. She emphasized the government's dedication to reducing constraints and mitigating risks from fire, insects, and disease, fostering a stronger timber industry.
The initiative is designed to ensure that resources are managed effectively for future generations. It seeks to support rural economies, reduce wildfire risks, and enhance workforce capacity by aligning and expanding partnerships. The Memo mandates the U.S. Forest Service to enhance timber outputs, simplify permitting, remove National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, and decrease contracting and implementation burdens. Collaboration with states, local governments, and forest product producers is also emphasized to maintain a stable supply of timber.
This action follows an earlier move by Secretary Rollins to encourage American energy development by alleviating regulations from the previous administration that hindered energy and mineral development on Forest Service land. Included in this plan was the cancellation of two mineral leasing withdrawals on Forest Service land, intended to increase the production of critical minerals.
