(June 24, 2024) – As the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) evaluates its management approaches relative to old-growth and mature forests, the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society is underscoring the need for sustainable forest management that conserves wildlife, promotes forest diversity and optimizes carbon stewardship.
RGS & AWS provided specific recommendations to the Forest Service on a just-published “threat analysis” report that considers factors such as wildfire, insects, disease and climatic shifts as they relate to mature and old-growth forests. The report is part of the agency’s larger effort to chart its future management of public land forests, an undertaking that itself responds to a 2022 executive order from President Biden that mandated policy recommendations while weighing landscape-level threats. The proposal could result in amending national forest management plans to target old-growth forest conditions.
RGS & AWS has been closely engaged in this process by providing public comments and advising the administration on forest management. Informed by sound science, RGS & AWS maintains that promoting forest diversity – a shifting mosaic of young, middle-aged and old forest across landscapes – is essential for wildlife and climate resilience.
“To manage for the greatest good, we have to view forests as dynamic collections of equally important habitats, not just old growth, then everything else. Wildlife, carbon, water, local community involvement and recreation are optimized when many forest ages are interspersed across landscapes. Proactive management is essential,” said Ben Jones, RGS & AWS president and CEO. “We are deeply committed to these shared goals, and value the chance to work with the Forest Service and the administration.”
“As the Forest Service deliberates the future management of our national forests, we remain resolute in promoting science-based forest and wildlife management, just as we have done for more than 60 years,” Jones continued. “Our recommendations represent the best available science along with the values and opinions of thousands of RGS & AWS members who care deeply about forest wildlife.”
Key points from RGS & AWS’s recommendations to the Forest Service follow:
- The wildlife declines noted across state wildlife action plans are due in large part to lack of forest diversity. This includes ruffed grouse, American woodcock and dozens of animals that depend on healthy forests. Active forest management is a big part of the solution. Without it, species will be lost.
- Climate resilience, carbon optimization and biodiversity are maximized when many forest ages are interspersed across landscapes. Promoting forest diversity, including young, middle-aged and old forest across landscapes, is key to manage for wildlife and climate resilience. To do so, we must view forests as dynamic collections of equally important seral states, not just “old growth” and “everything else.”
- Forest science tells us that humans – who are major ecological players and have been for thousands of years – must continue to play an active role in stewarding many natural systems. Adding acreage under “protection from management” limits Forest Service ability to respond to climate change, leading to loss of wildlife habitat, forest resilience and carbon optimization.
- Accomplishing climate resilience in our forests requires local capacity. A restoration economy can strengthen these national forest-adjacent communities, many of which are underserved, by creating family-supporting jobs in the forestry, forest products and restoration sectors. Social and economic stability can be supported by the Forest Service investing in projects that improve forest and watershed resiliency.
The agency will continue to assess its approach, including by soliciting and integrating public comments, with a final decision coming as soon as the end of 2024. Information on public meetings and comment opportunities will be posted to the USFS website; the RGS & AWS community will be notified by email.
About the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society
RGS & AWS unites conservationists to improve wildlife habitat and forest health for ruffed grouse, American woodcock and ALL forest wildlife. We promote forest stewardship for our forests, our wildlife and our future. Backed by our community of passionate conservationist members, RGS & AWS employs a network of forestry management professionals to work alongside public and private stakeholders. The tenets of sound science in wildlife and forestry have guided RGS & AWS for 60 years and onward.
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Media Contact:
Katie McKalip
406-240-9262
KatieM@RuffedGrouseSociety.org
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