U.S., After a Court Reversal, Issues New Rules for Forests

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The United States Forest Service has released new regulations for managing the country’s 155 national forests, after a federal judge struck down an earlier set of rules.

The service’s associate chief, Sally Collins, said the rules, which took effect Wednesday, gave forest managers more power to react to natural disasters and climate change and to decide how land they supervise should be used.

The new regulations also end the requirement that each species be evaluated for sustainability. Instead, the service will focus on the overall habitat in and around a national forest, it says.

Environmental groups say the rules remove critical protections for wildlife and will allow more logging. At least one environmental law firm, Earthjustice of Oakland, Calif., said it would challenge the rules.

“This is a parting gift from the Bush administration to the timber industry,” said Trent Orr, a staff lawyer for Earthjustice. “It is just a complete gutting of the provisions to protect wildlife.”


NY Times

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Kicked for the after-5 crowd. nt