Climate News: Trump announces expansion of tree felling and removal of forest protection

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to increase domestic timber production by removing key environmental protections on public land. The order makes available more than 50% of US protected national forests for cutting – around 280 million acres of forest, larger than the size of California. The administration claims that felling the trees will boost the rural economy, decreasing reliance on foreign timber and reducing wildfire risks.

The US imports billions of dollars’ worth of lumber annually, particularly from Canada which supplied around 25% of US softwood consumption, and 20% of structural panel demand in 2024. Nationwide, the wood industry supports over 750,000 direct and indirect jobs and 500 facilities. Trump argues that, by creating a larger supply of domestic wood, the order will decrease reliance on buying internationally and create more jobs domestically through growing the lumber industry.

Many of the areas targeted for logging are not the same areas at risk of wildfire, or likely to benefit from increased industry, raising questions about the policy’s effectiveness

However, US timber is not of the same quality as imported timber. US forests, especially in lower latitudes, tend to be fast-growing and therefore less dense. Canadian forests, which have colder climates, grow slower, resulting in denser, higher-quality wood. In comparison, US timber simply does not have the same level of strength or flame resistance. To build structures out of US wood, it would require a significantly larger amount of wood than the same frame built out of stronger imports. The US requires imported wood – it is vital to building infrastructure nationwide. By halting this trade, it places US security at greater risk than being dependent on foreign nations to supply it.

Furthermore, many of the areas targeted for logging are not the same areas at risk of wildfire, or likely to benefit from increased industry, raising questions about the policy’s effectiveness. Nevertheless, the policy is going ahead, placing up to 400 endangered species at risk by habitat loss.

Trump’s sweeping changes to environmental regulations mark a dramatic shift from the previous administration’s priorities. His decision promises economic benefits, national security improvement, and wildfire prevention. In reality, it delivers on none of these. Instead, it risks irreversible damage to ecosystems, undermines long-term forest health, and alienates communities that depend on this land for recreation and conservation.