<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0V0hDi_0vZnofoV00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0V0hDi_0vZnofoV00" width="640" height="438" > Old-growth trees in the Nantahala National Forest in western North Carolina. Photo: U.S. Forest Service Environmental advocates in North Carolina are worried that the Biden administration’s draft National Old-Growth Amendment fails to sufficiently protect the country’s remaining old-growth forests. Speaking at a virtual press conference on Tuesday, a trio of advocates urged the federal government to prohibit logging of old-growth trees and provide clear guidelines on how to restore those vital ecosystems. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> The old-growth forests are essential for mitigating climate change and supporting the endangered species that live within them. They’re facing threats from ongoing logging projects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/old-growth-forests/amendment" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> proposal </a> would aim to conserve old-growth forests and the biodiversity that they provide. But environmental advocates say it isn’t enough. They’re frustrated with the amendment’s lack of clarity and inclusion of loopholes that they say could worsen current management practices. Advocates are asking the public to submit comments urging the USDA to embrace stronger language and more protection. Emily Mason, an advocate from the <a href="https://environmentamerica.org/northcarolina/center/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> Environment North Carolina Research and Policy Center </a> , said the proposal doesn’t do enough to protect the remaining old-growth trees in North Carolina. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> “North Carolina’s old-growth trees are worth more standing and need to be protected for generations to come,” she said. Josh Kelly, resilient forest director for <a href="https://mountaintrue.org/#" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> MountainTrue </a> , was born in western North Carolina. He’s spent his personal and professional life learning the geography, culture, ecology, and history of the region. MountainTrue has worked towards documenting and protecting the old-growth forest in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge for 40 years, according to Kelly. In the time since European colonization, endangered species populations in the area have shrunk and deforestation has been rapid. Kelly encouraged the federal government to prohibit activities that liquidate old-growth forests from federal lands. “Humans and old-growth forests can thrive together, side by side, but greed and arrogance are the enemy of both,” Kelly said. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> David Reid is a volunteer with the <a href="https://www.sierraclub.org/north-carolina" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank"> North Carolina chapter of the Sierra Club </a> . The organization works nationally to protect old-growth forests and has called for the Biden administration to do more. Mature old-growth trees are crucial to reducing carbon emissions, with bigger trees providing more carbon sequesters and stores, Reid said. “This amendment needs to ensure that the decision to protect old growth is spelled out at the plan level and not open to interpretation by local project managers,” he added. The public has until 11:59 p.m. on Friday to <a href="https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=65356" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> submit comments </a> about the proposal to the U.S. Forest Service. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Environmental advocates in North Carolina are worried that the Biden administration’s draft National Old-Growth Amendment fails to sufficiently protect the country’s remaining old-growth forests. Speaking at a virtual press conference on Tuesday, a trio of advocates urged the federal government to prohibit logging of old-growth trees and provide clear guidelines on how to restore those […]