On January 14, 2025, the U.S. Forest Service officially withdrew the National Old Growth Amendment (NOGA), a policy that had been in development for over two years. The NOGA aimed to impose restrictions on active forest management under the pretext of protecting old growth forests. However, this initiative faced significant backlash from industry stakeholders, particularly from the Associated Oregon Loggers, who criticized it as an ill-conceived effort that threatened both forest health and the economy [3e9e25c8].
Rex Storm, executive vice president of the Association of Oregon Loggers, heralded the withdrawal as a victory for science and modern forestry management. He emphasized that the proposed restrictions of the NOGA would have adversely affected timber supplies, forestry jobs, and wildfire management, ultimately harming rural communities and the forest products industry [3e9e25c8].
The decision to withdraw the NOGA aligns with a broader trend of prioritizing sustainable forestry practices while balancing economic needs. The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, based in Greenville, South Carolina, has been actively promoting sustainable forest management through its funding initiatives, including a recent allocation of $6.5 million for projects aimed at enhancing forests, communities, and markets [127f75e8].
This juxtaposition of federal policy and local industry perspectives highlights the ongoing debate over forest management practices in the United States, particularly as stakeholders seek to navigate the complexities of environmental protection and economic viability [3e9e25c8].