WildEarth Guardians

For 30 years, the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) has helped restore the Pacific Northwest’s forests, protecting wildlife, improving water quality, and safeguarding carbon-storing old-growth trees. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is proposing major changes that could weaken these protections while simultaneously increasing logging across our national forests. Guardians' Pacific Northwest Conservation Advocate Ryan Talbott breaks down what these changes mean in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/gJGEtjrE This deep dive explores the history of the NWFP, why it matters for biodiversity and climate resilience, and what’s at risk if these amendments move forward. If you care about old-growth forests, public lands, and climate action, this is a must-read. #PublicLands #ProtectOldGrowth #NorthwestForestPlan

Congratulations to our partners for this win for grizzly conservation! This victory comes on the heels of Guardians' legal win for federally threatened grizzly bears and bull trout on the Flathead National Forest regarding more protective road management requirements. https://lnkd.in/grEwPGMR

We believe that grizzly bears have an inherent right to exist and thrive in biologically suitable habitat across the West - on public and private land. Read more about how the goal posts of grizzly bear recovery have been moved, not by conservationists, but by hostile state policy, climate change, development and recreational pressures. #KeepGrizzliesProtected https://lnkd.in/g3tZpin4

Today, Guardians, along with several conservation organizations and grizzly bear proponents, released “A New Vision for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Northern Rockies.” The report from nine conservation groups provides a list of actions, policies, and practices to address human conflicts, and offers recommendations for improving and protecting grizzly bear habitat. Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/gNqYepPD #BearsBelong #KeepGrizzliesProtected #Coexistence

WildEarth Guardians finds the recent attacks on our public servants egregious and dangerous. In support of federal workers, WildEarth Guardians is supporting the Save our Services Day of Action on February 19th being led by the Federal Unionists Network. The Day of Action asks people to wear red, white or blue, and post a selfie using #SaveOurServices and provide responses to how federal workers serve you, and communities, in the text of your post. More information on the Save our Service Day of Action can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ghv8AXMv

Today, WildEarth Guardians challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision to deny #EndangeredSpeciesAct protections for three imperiled plants found only near Arches National Park in Southeast Utah. Drought and climate change threaten these flowering, rare plants, which are a testament to nature’s beauty in the most unlikely places. Read more ?? https://lnkd.in/gsdZSAXB

It can be scary to live through these tumultuous times, but we need to keep looking for hope and solutions. Part of that effort could involve the second most industrious ecosystem engineer on the planet (after humans): the beaver. Read more from WildEarth Guardians' Wildlife Program Director Chris Smith in the Albuquerque Journal about why - and how - New Mexico should invest in beavers. https://lnkd.in/gWVru6bC #NMBeaverProject #Wildlife

Just in time for your weekend reading, here's the second installment in an ongoing investigation into ways the U.S. Forest Service is applying powers granted to it for fire prevention to boost sales of timber to logging companies. Read it here ?? https://lnkd.in/gDXzd5jZ

Bray J. Beltrán's interview on Outdoor Minimalist is wonderful! The American conservation movement needs deep reform and focus on inclusion--thank you Bray for your insight and inspiration. Great discussion.

Check out the first article in a three-part series by Columbia Insight reporter Nathan Gilles about how the Forest Service is using threat of wildfire to boost logging to meet higher timber targets set by the Forest Service Chief in 2023. The article is largely based on documents WildEarth Guardians' Ryan Talbott obtained through FOIA. Part 2 comes out next week and will focus on how these policies are playing out on Mt. Hood National Forest and leading to old-growth logging that should not be occurring. https://lnkd.in/gNFps5TZ #WorthMoreStanding #ClimateForests #ForestGuardians