Why National Forests
Zach Bright
Our national forests provide a haven for wildlife and recreationists alike, but they are under constant pressure from threats like logging, mining and road building.
We work with other groups who care about our national forests to protect nearly 59 million acres of America’s forests.
This is important because forests provide us with:
- Clean drinking water
- Healthy air
- Endless recreation opportunities
We focus on two major areas to keep national forests healthy and intact:
- Protecting the last remaining forests from development
- Restoring damaged forests to a more natural and wilder condition.
How we work on national forests
Through our National Forest Action Center, The Wilderness Society’s staff works with people on the ground and in local and federal government to keep our forests natural and untouched by modern development.
Our work at the National Forest Action Center is supported by communities and businesses that depend on forests for their livelihoods.
Forest planning
Even protected forests need nurturing. Like tending a garden, we need to make sure forests are healthy. The Wilderness Society has worked on many of the laws and regulations that help us manage our forests, like the “National Forest Management Act” and the “National Forest Planning Rule.”
Forest protection
We use a variety of tools to protect America’s national forests including:
- Advocating for constructive legislation in Congress.
- Working with local communities located in and around national forests.
- Conserving our last remaining roadless areas. The “Roadless Rule” is one of the most successful and important conservation victories of our time.
Forest restoration
Restoring America’s national forests not only creates healthy forests, it also creates long-lasting sustainable jobs. Through our forest restoration program, The Wilderness Society focuses on restoring:
- Watersheds, which protects our water sources from pollution and contamination.
- Forests that have been damaged by previous industrial activity or other types of human activity, such as wildfire suppression.
Forest funding
While our national forests provide us with clean drinking water, healthy air and endless recreation opportunities for free, we need to make sure that they are well managed and facilities are maintained. And this costs money. Learn how The Wilderness Society works with people on the ground and government agencies to secure funding for America’s forests.
