forests

Rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule would open up 58 million acres of national forest land across the country to logging and development

Bark beetles have impacted nearly 80% of Colorado’s pine forests, and yet ecologists say the devastation is a sign of climate-change adaptation.

The amount of forest with problems is only a small fraction of the overall 22 million acres state officials looked at, but it is slightly above the 10-year average.

George Wuerthner writes, "One has to presume that if forests have survived for tens of millions of years without human intervention, they certainly don't need any now."

The U.S. Forest Service has pulled its intent to issue an official nationwide policy to preserve old-growth forests.

Michael Hoyt writes, "It is far past time for the Forest Service to explain why it continues to propose thinning projects that exacerbate global warming."

In its annual forest health report, the Department of Natural Resources found worrisome trends for drought-stressed trees in the state.

Missoula legislators write, "The Land Board, working with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, should fully evaluate different strategies for maintaining the existing mill infrastructure in Montana."

As increasing drought pushes western Montana toward a risky fire season, new University of Montana research indicates that wildfire suppression can worsen the effects of wildfire.

Michael Hoyt writes, "The Montana representative for the trade association, American Forest Resource Council, attempted to resurrect that old, worn-out, dishonest claim that environmentalists get rich by taking the Forest Service to court."