Forest Service proposed logging threatens species, older trees in Pike National Forest

DENVER – Twenty organizations representing members across the United States submitted a public comment letter on December 4 in response to the Forest Services’ proposed Lower North-South Vegetation Management project in Pike National Forest. The Pike National Forest is south of Denver and west of I-25, extending down to Colorado Springs. The stated goal of the project, which encompasses 261,096 acres, is to reduce wildfire risk but environmental advocates say that the project would do more harm than good.

“It is appropriate for the Forest Service to act to protect communities from the risk of wildfire. But we can do so without chopping down our oldest trees and degrading critical wildlife habitat,”said Ellen Montgomery, Environment Colorado Research & Policy Center’s public lands campaign director. “ In their rush to log, the agency has left two major boxes unchecked: keeping old-growth trees off the chopping block; and addressing the risk to threatened species.”

The forest is home to many wildlife species such as the Mexican Spotted Owl, the Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse and the American Goshawk.

In April 2022, President Biden issued Executive Order 14072, which directs federal agencies, including the Forest Service, to conserve mature and old-growth forests for the benefit of the climate and biodiversity. The comment letter says that the Lower North-South project “runs afoul” of that order by failing to include safeguards for mature and old-growth in the project area.

“Our older trees are worth more standing than as wood products,” said Montgomery. “We need clean air and clean water, wildlife need habitats and we all benefit from these trees sucking up carbon.”