An overarching vision for the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision

We must protect the remaining mature and old forests in the Blue Mountains. We have lost most of our large and old trees to centuries of logging. Mature and old forests provide vital benefits for the climate and biodiversity. The revised Blue Mountains Forest Plans must protect the few remaining large and old trees on the landscape, and support the health of mature and old-growth forests, including their dynamic natural processes.

Current logging practices threaten mature and old forests. The large-scale, heavy commercial extraction model is not working to protect forests and keep communities safe. Logging is being sold to the public under the guise of wildfire protection and restoration. However, the heavy logging taking place across eastside Forests can exacerbate fire risk through drying out forests and increasing winds through forest stands. Please see our fact sheet on logging and wildfire to read more about this issue. 

Protect streams, fish, and water quality. A central component of any Forest Plan Revision for the Blue Mountains must include safeguards for fish and other aquatic and riparian species that depend on a sufficient quantity of clean, cold water in streams, rivers, tributaries, and wetlands.

Prioritize protections for wildlife and wildlife habitats, large habitat blocks, and landscape-level connectivity. In order to give species the best chance at adapting to and surviving climate change, it is crucial that we prioritize protections for all native flora and fauna. 

The Revised Forest Plan must contain strong, enforceable standards with measurable objectives that protect mature and old forests, unroaded areas, streams, wildlife habitat, water quality, and carbon storage.

We need solutions that match the magnitude of the threats we face. We have a moral imperative to act boldly for future generations. 

A paradigm shift is needed in order to protect forests in the Blue Mountains and across the region. We are in the midst of the intertwined climate and biodiversity emergencies. It is time to take decisive actions to ensure that our forests are allowed to be a vital part of the solution to these crises. We urgently need a new model that prioritizes mature and old forests, wildlife and core habitats, landscape level connectivity, streams and clean water, soils, and carbon storage. We need to focus on protecting biodiversity and ecological integrity.