The Trump administration’s aggressive push to open up large portions of American wilderness to commercial logging has sparked concerns among scientists and current and former federal land managers. After President Trump signed executive orders addressing national security concerns related to timber and lumber exports and the expansion of American timber production, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins took further action. She issued a memo declaring an “emergency situation determination” for over 112,646,000 acres of national forest, covering about 60% of the country’s national forest lands.
This move, framed as a response to wildfires, has raised suspicions among critics who see it as a way to ramp up logging on national forests while bypassing environmental laws. The administration’s focus on slashing funding and staff from key federal science agencies has also raised concerns about their ability to respond to environmental and public health crises. Despite claims that these actions are meant to protect forests, experts argue that they weaken environmental protections to benefit wealthy corporations.
While some ecologists support managing wildland through prescribed fires and thinning, they caution against the scale and approach to logging under the Trump administration. The administration’s executive orders target a different component of forested areas than those focused on reducing wildfire risks. Many fear that the loss of experienced personnel within agencies like the Forest Service will lead to inadequate management of the land.
The Biden administration’s approach to science agencies and national parks has also come under scrutiny, with concerns about the long-term consequences of expanded logging activities. Critics argue that commercial logging will not prevent the most destructive fires, which are fueled by extreme weather conditions and climate change. By fast-tracking commercial logging under the guise of fire protection, the Trump administration is prioritizing special interests over science and leaving communities vulnerable to worsening fire risks. Situasi yang tegang antara administrasi dan hutan nasional mungkin akan berakhir di pengadilan, tapi tindakan Trump menunjukkan bahwa administrasi saat ini lebih suka bergerak cepat dan merusak daripada memilih alternatif yang kurang kacau. Dan jika kamu menebang hutan yang tua, akan membutuhkan waktu lama untuk mengembalikannya.