April 25, 2022 3:00 a.m.

On Friday, Congressman Peter DeFazio and Senator Ron Wyden commended the Biden administration’s executive order to protect old growth and mature forests.

A release said the announcement follows letters sent last year and this year by lawmakers urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior to include protection for old growth and mature forests as part of the agencies’ carbon reduction planning efforts.

DeFazio said “One of the best tools we have in the fight against climate change is protecting our natural world, particularly our old growth forests which are a leading source of carbon sequestration”. DeFazio said millions of acres of old growth thrive in Oregon and it should remain that way. DeFazio said, “I’m glad to see the Biden Administration take a step today to strengthen protections for old growth and mature forests as part of their carbon reduction plan”.

Wyden said, “This is welcome news for our entire state heading into wildfire season with Oregonians counting on the Forest Service to marshal all its fire-reduction efforts ASAP as the needed complement to the fire reduction investments I got into the American Rescue Plan”. Wyden said President Biden’s Earth Day announcement takes on the climate crisis increasingly threatening Oregon’s mature forests. Wyden said “This inventory and assessment will provide concrete, science-based data and give solid information for where to focus fire reduction efforts in the urgent need for more active management to restore forest health and resilience before we lose these treasures entirely”.

A number of other lawmakers signed onto the letter as well, including Congressman Earl Blumenauer.