LET TREES
GROW
PROTECT THE CLIMATE

We work to protect mature and old-growth forests from logging across America's federal lands as a cornerstone of U.S. climate policy

17.2

Billion metric tons of carbon stored in U.S. federal forests. Federal forest protections are critical to safeguarding communities from the future impacts of climate change.

Million metric tons of carbon sequestered from the atmosphere by federal forestlands. There is no other technology that can match forests for carbon removal at this scale.

>95%

Forest carbon is stored in forest ecosystem pools vs. harvested wood products. This is why it's important to protect these critical carbon reservoirs.

We believe our national public forests should be safeguarded as a place where nature thrives. These national treasures should be managed to restore mature and old-growth ecosystems, recover native wildlife, provide clean drinking water for our communities, and to capture carbon and aid in the fight against climate change. We envision a future where old-growth giants are once again common on our public lands, where rivers run cold and clean, where salmon and other wildlife thrive, where people feel a strong connection and are empowered to protect these special places, and where public lands are managed as a legacy for all Americans.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

Why is it so important to protect our older trees and forests as a critical climate solution?

Forests offer the single most powerful and effective way to remove carbon from our atmosphere. Mature and forests and big trees are the natural champions of carbon sequestration, storing carbon for decades, if not centuries. They are a low-cost resource that continues to grow as we all benefit from the services they provide, including clear air, clean water, habitat for wildlife, a haven for biodiversity and myriad options for recreation.
How will a future rule impact efforts to protect communities from the threat of wildfire?

Conserving mature forests and trees is consistent with U.S. federal agency’s efforts to protect communities from the risk of wildfire. Mature trees often have thicker protective bark and mature forests with trees from different species and at different ages have multiple layers of vegetation–called “canopies”--that protect microclimates under their shade, keep temperatures cooler and enable the forest to retain more moisture in the air and soil (Lesmeister et al. 2019, Zald et al. 2018), making them better able to survive fires.
How do mature and old-growth forests prevent erosion and flooding?

The extensive networks of root systems in old, undisturbed forests absorb rainfall efficiently, prevent runoff, stabilize water table levels and retain soil moisture. These processes regulate the flow across the land surface and help secure slopes, prevent water and wind erosion, while managing the transport of nutrients and sediments (Watson et al. 2016, DellaSala et al. 2011, Creed et al. 2016, Moomaw et al. 2019).
How do older forests protect drinking water?

Forests naturally filter rainwater. Water from forested watersheds is much cleaner than water from urban or agricultural land. In the U.S., forests provide water to more than 150 million people, our largest source of drinking water (Furniss et al. 2010, USFS 2022, Segura et al. 2020, Perry et al. 2016), helping communities confront climate impacts like drought, heatwaves, and changing rainfall patterns.
How does protecting mature and old-growth forests help save fish and wildlife?

Intact forests allow for generations of fish wildlife to build homes and raise their young, protected by the multi-layered shade of varied-age trees and nurtured by a stable foundation of forest microorganisms. Cavities in old trees and fallen logs are among the most favored nesting spots for birds and other forest dwellers. Older forests moderate latitude, altitude, rainfall and temperature (Watson et al. 2016).
How will this rulemaking affect traditional and customary uses by Tribal nations and their citizens on ancestral lands that are managed as federal forests?

This campaign does not intend to interfere with traditional and customary uses of land within federal forests. Such uses are generally consistent with preserving mature and old-growth trees and forests. Any rulemaking process will need to include robust Tribal consultation and engagement. And any protections will need to recognize the importance of these uses and will not infringe upon Treaty rights. We are currently reaching out to Tribes nationwide whose interests could be potentially affected by a rulemaking like this. We hope to understand better how those interests could be affected, particularly the interests of those Tribes with traditional and cultural ties to existing old-growth/mature trees and stands within federal forestlands and those with significant timber interests and lands adjacent to federally managed forests.