Amid a slew of executive orders from the Trump administration, one to expand logging efforts has a local nonprofit worried about the potential impacts for endangered species, erosion, and wildfire prevention Los Padres National Forest.
On March 1, the executive order “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” ordered the streamlining of logging permitting throughout the country to increase economic security.
“The production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products (timber production) is critical to our nation’s well-being,” the order states. “Timber production is essential for crucial human activities like construction and energy production.”
Los Padres ForestWatch Executive Director Jeff Kuyper anticipates at least 80 percent of the local forest is subject to the emergency declaration.
“It does open the floodgates to pretty much unchecked logging and vegetation clearing projects throughout all national forests in the country, including here in Los Padres National Forest, and that’s what’s of great concern,” Kuyper told New Times.
The executive order blamed “heavy-handed” federal policies that it claims prevented full use of the resources. The order said the country has been forced to rely on foreign producers.
“Our inability to fully exploit our domestic timber supply has impeded the creation of jobs and prosperity, contributed to wildfire disasters, degraded fish and wildlife habitats, increased the cost of construction and energy, and threatened our economic security,” the order said.
Despite major federal staffing cuts, the order calls on leaders of the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to issue new guidance to increase timber production and sound forest management, reduce time to deliver timber, and decrease timber supply uncertainty.
Current logging projects in Los Padres National Forest that predate the current Trump administration include areas of Pine Mountain and Mount Pinos and aim to reduce tree densities and promote forest resilience to insects and disease, persistent drought, and wildfire, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s website.
Kuyper said he’s worried about a potential lack of public input under a much faster and more streamlined process.
“It authorizes the Forest Service to approve these things at a much faster pace and without going through the normal environmental review process and doing so in a way that shuts the public out as well,” he said. “It’s critically important, because these are public lands, to have the public be engaged and able to participate in these decisions, make their voices be heard”
The potential environmental impacts depend on the area of the forest, Kuyper said, but over-logging could result in habitat loss for endangered species like condors and steelhead trout, as well as vegetation loss due to erosion.
“Many of the places targeted by this emergency declaration are areas where people go hiking and camping,” he added. “It would fundamentally change the look and feel of Los Padres National Forest for decades to come.”
Forest Service spokesperson Larry Moore told New Times via email that under the executive order, no specific forest information was available to share as of April 16. However, he also said that a national plan will be developed within the next 30 days, and regions would then develop a five-year strategy aligned to the national plan.
According to an April 3 letter from Forest Service Acting Associate Chief Christopher French, the department’s national plans will support rural economies and forest product industry partners, reduce the risk of destructive wildfire by creating and sustaining healthy and resilient forests and watersheds, and build capacity through workforce alignment and partnerships.
Moore told New Times that the Forest Service stands ready to fulfill the vision of executive order while maintaining resilient and productive forests.
“Active management has long been at the core of Forest Service efforts to address the many challenges faced by the people and communities we serve, and we will leverage our expertise to support healthy forests, sustainable economies, and rural prosperity for generations to come,” Moore said. Δ
This article appears in Apr 17-27, 2025.