The federal government’s move to increase logging in national forests across the country has put large swaths of the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania at risk. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has designated almost 60% of national forest lands under an emergency designation due to declining forest health and wildfire risks. The move will make it easier to harvest more timber without the need for certain regulations and processes.
While Rollins claims the move will strengthen the American timber industry and reduce risks of fire, insects, and disease, some environmental advocates argue that the forests are not suffering from an emergency. They contend that logging could actually worsen wildfires and harm endangered species that depend on the forest habitat.
The push for more logging is supported by local officials and U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson, who represents the district where the Allegheny National Forest is located. Proponents argue that logging can help mitigate wildfire risks, but opponents believe it could have detrimental effects on the forest ecosystem, including endangered species.
The move grants the Forest Service power to take actions typically reserved for crises, including expedited permitting and emergency consultation to comply with environmental laws. Critics fear that the logging could threaten habitats for endangered species like bats and salamanders, as well as the overall health of the forest ecosystem. Concerns have been raised about the impact of logging on water quality and biodiversity in the forest.
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