Central Wyoming News

U.S. Senator John Barrasso, alongside Senators Cynthia Lummis, Steve Daines, and Jim Risch, has introduced a bill aimed at safeguarding America's old growth forests by ensuring state and local land managers have a significant role in their protection. The legislation seeks to counter a U.S. Forest Service policy that overlooks the input of local and state forestry initiatives, potentially hindering the unique management needs of forests across the nation, especially in places like Wyoming's Bighorn National Forest.

Senator Barrasso criticized the U.S. Forest Service's proposed Old Growth Plan Amendment, stating, "Unelected, unaccountable, heavy handed Washington bureaucrats should not impose a ‘one-size-fits-all’ regulatory scheme on Wyoming’s old growth forests." He emphasized the importance of local stakeholders in land management, highlighting that they are the best stewards of the land and should be actively involved in wildfire mitigation and combating threats like disease and insects.

Senator Lummis echoed these sentiments, expressing concern that the Biden administration's management strategies for Wyoming's old-growth forests were implemented without consulting the local community. She emphasized the importance of local knowledge in land management decisions, asserting that "The people of Wyoming, not unelected D.C. bureaucrats, know better than anyone how to manage our lands."

Senator Daines emphasized the need for tailored management approaches, particularly in the face of increasing wildfire risks, stating that a one-size-fits-all approach from Washington, D.C., could impede effective forest protection strategies. Similarly, Senator Risch highlighted the consequences of federal mismanagement, emphasizing the importance of local collaboration and responsible management practices to preserve America's forests.

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon endorsed the legislation, emphasizing the necessity of addressing old growth at a forest level with local expertise to combat threats like fire, insects, and disease. The Governor criticized the top-down nature of the old-growth amendment, advocating for a more localized and informed approach to forest management.

In response to the concerns raised by these lawmakers and local stakeholders, the bill introduced by Senator Barrasso and his colleagues aims to empower state and local land managers in protecting America's old growth forests, ensuring that management decisions are tailored to specific locations and involve input from those closest to the land.