WASHINGTON, DC—This summer, the Forest Service began working in collaboration with Bureau of Land Management to achieve the goals outlined in Executive Order 14072: “Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies,” issued April 22, 2022. Section 2(b) requires the Forest Service and BLM to define, identify and complete an inventory of old-growth and mature forests on federal lands in one year, by April 23, 2023.

To address the first part of the task—defining mature and old-growth forest—it is critical that employees across the agency have an opportunity to provide input, in addition to tribes, partners and stakeholders. Please consider participating in one of two employee engagement sessions:

• Monday, Aug. 1, 2-4 p.m. Eastern
• Wednesday, Aug. 3, 12 – 2 p.m. Eastern

Choose the session that works best for you and register to learn more about this effort and share your perspective. We also invite written employee input, either individually or as consolidated feedback from units. More information will be forthcoming on how to submit comments to the project team. This employee commenting opportunity coincides with a public comment period announced via Federal Register Notice.

Please visit Old-growth and Mature Forests Definition Development—Request for Information for more information about this interdepartmental effort, how to register for one of the employee engagement webinars and how to submit your feedback.