A coalition representing counties, business and labor has reached an agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service that will initiate a public regulatory rulemaking process for revaluating critical habitat designated for the Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agreement was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the […]
Press Releases
Ninth Circuit Upholds Moose Creek Project to Improve Forest Health on Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest
On April 7 a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a decision upholding the Moose Creek Vegetation Management Project on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. The project restores 2,200 acres northeast of White Sulphur Springs, Montana that have been adversely affected by severe infestations of spruce budworm […]
Gov. Inslee approves Washington forest industry carbon bill
Note: This is a joint press release with the Washington Forest Protection Association Today, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law ESSHB 2528, legislation acknowledging the essential role Washington state’s forestry industry and working forests play in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and establishing it is in the public’s interest to support all aspects of […]
AFRC: Forest Products, Workers Are Critical Infrastructure in COVID-19 Response
The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) is working to ensure the forest products industry and its employees can continue to operate and help meet the nation’s needs as local, state and federal governments respond to the global COVID-19 epidemic. On March 18, AFRC joined the Federal Forest Resource Coalition in urging the U.S. Department of […]
Wild Olympics’ Fails to Protect Working Forests and Working Families
American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) President Travis Joseph had the following to say regarding today’s U.S. House passage of the “Wild Olympics” legislation included in HR 2546: “AFRC represents Washington forest products manufacturers, family-owned logging companies and the thousands of workers they employ on the Olympic Peninsula. For years, we have provided substantial feedback […]
AFRC Joins Firefighters, Schools, and Counties in Legal Challenge to Washington DNR Management Plans
Today four Washington counties and a coalition including school and fire districts filed a legal challenge to two management plans for state trust lands adopted by the Board of Natural Resources (BNR) in December that will adversely harm the delivery of critical public services. The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) is joining with these beneficiaries […]
Washington DNR Timber Harvest Reductions Will Hurt Rural Jobs, Public Schools, Community Services
Today, the Washington Board of Natural Resources adopted two new management plans for state forest trust lands that will reduce timber harvests on Department of Natural Resources (DNR) managed trust lands. As an advocate for DNR trust land management, the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) is concerned that the harvest reductions will directly harm rural […]
Federal Court Decisions on O&C Lands Deliver Major Victories for Rural Oregon
A federal court today issued two major decisions relating to the management of Western Oregon O&C lands. In one decision Judge Richard Leon invalidated President Barack Obama’s proclamation expanding the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument on O&C lands, finding no President has the unilateral authority to override Federal law and an Act of Congress. Specifically, the […]
Federal Court Decisions on O&C Lands Deliver Major Victories for Rural Oregon
A federal court today issued two major decisions relating to the management of Western Oregon O&C lands. In one decision Judge Richard Leon invalidated President Barack Obama’s proclamation expanding the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument on O&C lands, finding no President has the unilateral authority to override Federal law and an Act of Congress. Specifically, the […]
Why AFRC is Defending the Tecuya Ridge Shaded Fuelbreak Project
As an organization promoting active management of public lands to ensure public safety, protect forest health, and provide a sustainable timber supply, the American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) supports the proposed Tecuya Ridge Shaded Fuelbreak Project on the Los Padres National Forest. That’s why AFRC, joined by the California Forestry Association (CalForests) and Associated California Loggers (ACL), is seeking to intervene in a lawsuit that would overturn this important forest management project.