The purpose of our National Forests?

[Justabirdwatcher]

According to the proposed 2026 president's budget - "The President has pledged to manage national forests for their intended purpose of producing timber"

Right there at the bottom of pg. 33

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fiscal-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf

 

[SaskHunter]

 

[Forkyfinder]

"The Budget reduces salaries and expenses by $342 million, and saves an additional $50 million by eliminating funding for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, and reducing funding for recreation, vegetation and watershed management, and land management regulation. The Budget fully supports the President’s bold actions in Executive Order 14225, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” to improve forest management and increase domestic timber production, and the Administration’s goal of restoring federalism by empowering States to assume a
greater role in managing forest lands within their borders. The requested funding level supports the highest priorities in forest management, including timber sales, hazardous fuels removal, mineral
extraction, grazing, and wildlife habitat management."

It also says this, adjacent to forest service.

 

[SAJ-99]

No one should be surprised. If it can't be turned into a $, it has zero value to some. Any appreciable value based on beauty and uniqueness just means a there will be a dozen ultra rich that want to own it, like it's a trophy in a game.

 

[howl]

delta from status quo?

 

[SAJ-99]

delta from status quo?

Zero. The question really is do you agree and do you care enough to let someone know.

 

[INMT]

According to the proposed 2026 president's budget - "The President has pledged to manage national forests for their intended purpose of producing timber"

Right there at the bottom of pg. 33

https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Fiscal-Year-2026-Discretionary-Budget-Request.pdf

I read that too. Just gross. Timber production is fine and dandy but USFS land is actually MULTI-USE.

I guess that’s a hard concept for developers, portfolio managers, investors, venture capitalists, Project 2025, or whoever is in charge of our country right now.

Chit$ just begun.

 

[Nameless Range]

I’ve got an original copy of “The Use of Our National Forests”, written by Gifford Pinchot in 1907.

Section of which is called, What They Are For.

 

[mtmuley]

I’ve got an original copy of “The Use of Our National Forests”, written by Gifford Pinchot in 1907.

Section of which is called, What They Are For.

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Thanks for that. mtmuley

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

I’ve got an original copy of “The Use of Our National Forests”, written by Gifford Pinchot in 1907.

Section of which is called, What They Are For.

View attachment 371182


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Love, love, love this post. Thank you so much for sharing. I've never seen this book but now I must own a copy.

 

[howl]

Zero. The question really is do you agree and do you care enough to let someone know.

Sure. Can I get some others to bother them about burning too late and cooking turkey eggs? We let up for a second and they're back at it this year.

 

[SAJ-99]

Sure. Can I get some others to bother them about burning too late and cooking turkey eggs? We let up for a second and they're back at it this year.

I can't stop stupid.

 

[Pucky Freak]

 

[mtmuley]

I can't stop stupid.

Sometimes, things get stupid fast. mtmuley

 

[Flynarrow]

Teddy Roosevelt had to act fast to establish National Forest, as Congress and their monied cronies had their eyes on whatever financial gain they could get if these lands were not public.

While the original stated purpose of National Forests were for watershed protection and timber production, the Multiple Use Sustained Yield act gave equal footing to recreation, wildlife and grazing as multiple uses to be balanced. Then of course the Wilderness Act gave validation to setting aside some lands for their Wilderness Values.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Teddy Roosevelt had to act fast to establish National Forest, as Congress and their monied cronies had their eyes on whatever financial gain they could get if these lands were not public.

While the original stated purpose of National Forests were for watershed protection and timber production, the Multiple Use Sustained Yield act gave equal footing to recreation, wildlife and grazing as multiple uses to be balanced. Then of course the Wilderness Act gave validation to setting aside some lands for their Wilderness Values.

Acts Schmacts. As if those mean anything anymore... Who exactly is going to enforce them now?

 

[hank4elk]

I’ve got an original copy of “The Use of Our National Forests”, written by Gifford Pinchot in 1907.

Section of which is called, What They Are For.

View attachment 371182


View attachment 371183

View attachment 371184

Saved me a search for my copy.

 

[WesternCO68]

Saying the purpose of the forest is timber production is probably closer to Pinchot's original intent than the current way of doing things.

 

[WesternCO68]

That being said, I'm not happy about what the administration is doing with public lands. Killing the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program seems like a very bad call. Reducing funding for recreation is a huge deal - it was already underfunded. I hope conservatives from western states can speak up for their public lands. Some western Republicans are pretty good on that.

 

[SaskHunter]

"The Budget reduces salaries and expenses by $342 million, and saves an additional $50 million by eliminating funding for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration program, and reducing funding for recreation, vegetation and watershed management, and land management regulation. The Budget fully supports the President’s bold actions in Executive Order 14225, “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production,” to improve forest management and increase domestic timber production, and the Administration’s goal of restoring federalism by empowering States to assume a
greater role in managing forest lands within their borders. The requested funding level supports the highest priorities in forest management, including timber sales, hazardous fuels removal, mineral
extraction, grazing, and wildlife habitat management."

It also says this, adjacent to forest service.

I mean, who needs Federal Firefighting if there's no mo' trees to burn!?!