Ohio's only national forest could be wiped out by Trump's logging plan

Experts say large-scale tree felling can destroy ecosystems, increase forest fires, landslides and pollute water sources.

Wayne National Forest is home to many rare species, but is now at risk of being wiped out because of the Trump administration's logging plan - Photo: REUTERS

According to the Guardian on October 5, the Wayne National Forest in Ohio is facing the risk of being destroyed, as the Trump administration puts 40.47 million hectares of forest across the United States into a logging plan.

Last April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture under Brooke Rollins issued an emergency memorandum designating the Wayne National Forest as a key timber production area and proposing to remove some protections under the National Environmental Policy Act.

More than 80% of Wayne Forest is now classified as "suitable for logging", causing concern among local residents and environmental groups.

“This executive order is too general and doesn’t take into account the specifics of each forest. They say the goal is to prevent wildfires, but in Ohio, clear-cutting is not the way to go,” Stanley said.

"Logging is not always bad, but large-scale logging will destroy the ecosystem. Opening roads into the forest costs more than the profit from the timber," she stressed.

Unlike the vast forests of the American West, federal forests in industrial Midwest regions like Ohio are rare.

Large-scale tree felling could cause large amounts of mining waste to be washed into waterways, threatening the water supply of local communities. The existing tree root systems act to stabilize this waste.

Experts also warn that massive deforestation could increase the risk of forest fires and landslides.

Logging can increase the risk of wildfires, said Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.

When exploiting, people often open more roads for vehicles and machinery to access the forest.

However, about 90% of wildfires occur within about 0.5 miles (800 m) of these roads, suggesting that road openings inadvertently increase fire risk.

Many of the landslides in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene last year occurred in areas where logging projects once existed, he said.

Additionally, Ms. Stanley emphasized that the Appalachian region - where Wayne Forest is located - is facing historic flooding due to climate change.

"If we lose these intact forests, the risk of natural disasters will be more serious. Forests are the best natural shield we have," she warned.

On the other hand, supporters argue that logging brings economic benefits to poor rural areas. In 2020, the US Forest Service earned $183 million from timber sales and created tens of thousands of jobs.

XUAN THAO

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rung-quoc-gia-duy-nhat-bang-ohio-co-the-xoa-so-vi-ke-hoach-khai-thac-go-cua-ong-trump-20251006172246566.htm