United States President Joe Biden takes action to preserve national forests that have been destroyed by wildfires and other extreme weather conditions by signing an executive order to protect the oldest and largest trees in the country.
The signing of the order occurred on his Earth Day visit to Seattle on Friday.
Biden's directive requires federal land managers to identify and assess mature and old-growth forests across the country in a year. The order directs the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service to identify and implement strategies to protect older trees from hazards such as wildfire and climate change.
However, the order does not prohibit the logging of mature or old-growth trees, according to the White House.
According to a Los Angeles Times report, scientists believe that old-growth trees are critical climate change cushions and carbon sinks that absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Redwood forests are among the most efficient on the planet at absorbing and keeping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and they also offer essential habitats for native wildlife and watersheds that sustain crops and communities on the West of the Mississippi.
USA Today reported that President Biden specified a target of conserving at least 30% of US lands and seas by 2030. According to the order, federal agencies must set reforestation goals and prepare reports on how the government can combat global deforestation.
Forest clearing for agricultural commodities, including beef, soy, and palm oil, is a major driving factor in worldwide deforestation.
The State Department will be tasked under Biden's search for ways for the government to decrease or eliminate purchases of agricultural products produced in illegally deforested or newly deforested areas.
Experts Recommend A Better Solution
Former US Forest Service Deputy Chief Jim Furnish believes that cutting smaller trees that can spark uncontrolled blazes and leaving mature trees in place is better for managing wildfire threats and climate change.
According to Furnish, the Forest Service has permitted older trees worth more to be logged for many years to generate revenue for the loss of smaller trees. But, he claims that it is no longer necessary after Congress approved more than $5 billion in last year's infrastructure bill to minimize wildfire hazards. The bill includes funding to hire 1,500 firefighters at a minimum wage of $15 per hour.
Many forest scientists believe that policymakers allow the removal of far too many older, fire-resistant trees.
A petition signed by 135 scientists urged Biden to safeguard mature and old-growth forests as a key climate response.
More Efforts Needed To Combat Climate Change
Since taking office amid a flurry of climate-related pledges, Biden's ambitious climate strategy has been tarnished by failures.
Administration officials defended Biden's performance in addressing global warming, per AP News report. Though, they admit that extra effort is needed.
"We can have accomplished a lot, and have a long way to go," said Ali Zaidi, President Biden's deputy national climate adviser.
According to Kyle Tisdel, climate and energy program director at the Western Environmental Law Center, Biden has not yet fulfilled the "promises on this existential issue" made at last year's Earth Day summit.
"Achieving results on climate is not a matter of domestic politics, it's life and death."Tisdel emphasized.
