New Mexico Wild proudly stands alongside the Climate Forests Campaign and over 120 organizations committed to preserving mature and old-growth trees and forests on federal land. In a significant move, the USDA has issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a National Forest Plan Amendment—a crucial step aligned with President Biden’s April 2022 Executive Order, addressing threats to these vital ecosystems as part of a natural climate solution. Mature and old-growth forests store large amounts of carbon, increase biodiversity, mitigate wildfire risks, enhance climate resilience, enable subsistence and cultural uses, provide outdoor recreational opportunities, and promote sustainable local economic development.
If approved, this amendment will impact all land management plans for the National Forest System. Following the current 45-day scoping period, we anticipate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in May, with a subsequent 90-day comment period, and the final EIS expected in January 2025.
We express our gratitude to President Biden for his leadership and urge the Forest Service to align with the Executive Order’s directives. However, while recognizing the scarcity of old-growth forests in New Mexico, it’s imperative to emphasize the importance of protecting mature trees and forests. Doing so is crucial to recovering old growth, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring our forests serve as a potent natural climate solution.
New Mexico Wild is actively working to protect key regions with significant mature-growth forests, including:
- Gila National Forest: A high degree of mature forest overlaps with the area proposed for Wild and Scenic River protections, including a moderate degree of old-growth forest.
- Upper Pecos Watershed: A high degree of mature forest is present in the area proposed by New Mexico Wild and other partners for administrative mineral withdrawal, which is also under consideration for a legislative mineral withdrawal as part of the Pecos Watershed Protection Act. If passed, this act would also establish the Thompson Peak Wilderness Area.
- Caja del Rio: A moderate degree of mature forest exists on the Caja del Rio plateau.
We emphasize the need for meaningful protections for both old-growth and mature-growth forests. While acknowledging the importance of safeguarding the few remaining old-growth forests in New Mexico and across the country, we underscore the vital role of mature forests as a key to long-term success in mitigating the climate crisis. These forests, if allowed to flourish, will become the old growth of tomorrow, contributing to biodiversity, climate resilience, and acting as a potent natural climate solution.
Our commitment extends to continued advocacy for a national rule that comprehensively protects both mature and old-growth forests.
You can help us advocate for mature-growth forests!
Public Comment Period
The USDA is accepting public comments regarding the proposed National Forest Plan Amendment During through February 2, 2024. Please use your voice to speak up for our state’s old-growth AND mature forests today! We have included a sample comment below. Please remember that personalized comments always have the greatest impact!
Sample Comment:
I am writing to express my support for the USDA’s proposal to adopt a National Forest Plan Amendment to Conserve and Steward Old Growth Forests. President Biden exercised commendable leadership in issuing Executive Order 14072 on Earth Day 2022, which committed the US to identify, inventory, and protect mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. This proposal is a meaningful step toward implementing the Executive Order.
As USDA works to finalize this critical proposal, USDA should ensure that the final rule protects mature trees and forests, and not just old-growth. In places like New Mexico and elsewhere across the country, we have very little old growth left, and it is important to protect that. But mature forests and trees are the ultimate key to success. Both old-growth and mature forests are essential to removing climate-warming carbon pollution from the air and storing it, safeguarding wildlife, and providing clean drinking water for our communities. We need to protect these forests to recover old growth, protect biodiversity, and ensure our forests are a powerful natural climate solution.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments on this important initiative.
