US Makes , Promise to Conserve , Old-Growth Forests .<br />On December 19, the Biden administration committed to <br />conserving old-growth trees in national forests across the <br />United States as the impact of climate change intensifies.<br />On December 19, the Biden administration committed to <br />conserving old-growth trees in national forests across the <br />United States as the impact of climate change intensifies.<br />ABC reports that those threats include more <br />frequent and intense wildfires, invasive <br />insects and succumbing to disease.<br />According to Agriculture Secretary <br />Tom Vilsack, the agency would adopt an <br />"ecologically-driven" approach to old forests. .<br />According to Agriculture Secretary <br />Tom Vilsack, the agency would adopt an <br />"ecologically-driven" approach to old forests. .<br />That approach will reportedly include the first <br />nationwide amendment to U.S. Forest Service <br />plans since the agency was founded 118 years ago.<br />The announcement comes following longstanding <br />calls from environmentalists to preserve <br />old forests that provide critical habitat for wildlife. .<br />Their efforts have been opposed by the timber industry <br />which has fought against restrictions placed <br />on logging rights in government-owned lands.<br />ABC reports that the Biden administration's <br />latest efforts appear to aim for a middle <br />ground between the two sides.<br />ABC reports that the Biden administration's <br />latest efforts appear to aim for a middle <br />ground between the two sides.<br />The new plan significantly limits commercial timber <br />harvests in old-growth forests, while still allowing logging <br />in "mature forests" that are not yet at the old-growth stage.<br />The new plan significantly limits commercial timber <br />harvests in old-growth forests, while still allowing logging <br />in "mature forests" that are not yet at the old-growth stage.<br />This creates a commitment <br />to resiliency, a commitment to <br />restore and protect the existing<br />old growth that we have <br />from the threats that we see, Tom Vilsack, United States Agriculture Secretary, via ABC.<br />A series of wildfires over recent years have <br />highlighted the urgency of the issue, destroying <br />thousands of old-growth sequoia trees. .<br />A series of wildfires over recent years have <br />highlighted the urgency of the issue, destroying <br />thousands of old-growth sequoia trees.
