By SSBA Conservation Committee
The ancient forests of the Pacific Northwest are among the only places that are home to the Northern Spotted Owl and Marbled Murrelet — both listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and at risk of extinction. Science shows that remaining old-growth and mature forest habitat is critical to these birds’ survival – but now, these forests are under increasing threat.
The Northwest Forest Plan, a land management policy that has long guided protection and restoration of this habitat, is currently being revised by the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could greatly expand logging and undermine wildlife conservation in national forests. This legislation has passed the House and is awaiting passage in the Senate.
The Fix Our Forests Act (S. 1462) would weaken the Endangered Species Act and exempts much of their forest “fire reduction” program from complying with the National Environmental Policy Act, opening the door to large-scale expedited logging in national forests across the country. This is especially problematic for the forests in the Pacific Northwest, where our old growth and mature forests provide habitat to ESA species plus a plethora of bird species, threatened salmon, and many other plants and animals. This legislation promotes a view of our forests purely as fire risks, with a predictable focus on the need to remove more trees. This legislation is not a good solution to wildfire risk and seriously threatens existing protections for wildlife habitat, our forest species, and the health of our forest ecosystems.
Take action today for imperiled birds: Urge your Senators in Congress to defend the Northwest Forest Plan, protect the Pacific Northwest’s old-growth forests, and oppose the harmful Fix Our Forests Act.
The text of the Executive Order:
More in-depth discussion from the Sierra Club:
https://www.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2025/04/sierra-club-statement-senate-fix-our-forests-act
Send a letter to your WA Senators (through Environment America)
https://environmentamerica.org/take-action/tell-your-u-s-senators-vote-no-on-the-fix-our-forests-act
Photo credit: Mature mixed forest in WA, by Rachel Hudson.
