SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND: WE MUST DEFEND FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST FROM INCREASED LOGGING; FOLLOWING TRUMP ORDERING LARGE SWATHS OF NATIONAL FORESTS BE CUT DOWN FOR TIMBER, SENATORS DEMAND U.S. FOREST SERVICE PROTECT FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST TREES FROM LOGGING & RESTORE STAFF TO PROTECT UPSTATE NY ECOSYSTEMS

Trump Released Executive Order For U.S. Forest Service To Develop Plan To Increase Timber Production By 25% Across National Forests, Like Finger Lakes National Forest, Prompting Major Concern From Local Communities & Environmentalists, Which Treasure Open Space And Wilderness, Depend On Outdoors As Driver For Tourism Economy

Schumer Has Long History Of Pushing To Preserve & Protect Finger Lakes National Forest – NY’s Only National Forest; Senator Previously Sponsored Legislation To Protect Forest From Gas Drilling And Pushed To Stop Logging

Schumer, Gillibrand: We Must Protect Finger Lakes National Forest – A Crown Jewel of The Finger Lakes Region – From Unwarranted & Unwanted Logging

After the Trump administration released an executive order for the U.S. Forest Service to achieve a 25% increase in timber production in national forests, like the Finger Lakes National Forest, prompting outcry from local activists, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the U.S. Forest Service to protect Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) from increased timber logging and to restore FLNF to its full staffing level to protect this Upstate treasure. The Finger Lakes National Forest is New York’s only national forest, and the senators said protecting trees is vital to protecting the surrounding Finger Lakes, precious open space, biodiversity, and the vibrant recreation and tourism economy.

“We must protect the Finger Lakes from Trump’s attempts to turn our National Forests into timber. The Finger Lakes National Forest is a crown jewel of the region, and a magnet for families and tourists alike to experience the vast nature and beauty of Upstate NY. But Trump’s recent executive order could callously cut down huge chunks of this forest, threatening the Finger Lakes. This unwanted and unwarranted policy would endanger the Finger Lakes National Forest and our thriving outdoor recreation economy,” said Senator Schumer. “Trump’s ill-conceived executive order to cut down large swathes of our nation’s forest could be devastating, even the Once-ler in the Lorax would scoff at it. We cannot let our forest be ripped away from our kids, and the tens of thousands who visit the Finger Lakes every year.  That’s why I’m standing up to Trump’s plans and demanding the U.S. Forest Service not increase logging in the Finger Lakes National Forest. I’ve long been a proud supporter of the Finger Lakes National Forest, protecting it from gas drilling and high-volume logging for years. Now, we need to protect Upstate New York’s forest health to preserve the area’s natural beauty so the community and visitors can enjoy this space for generations to come.”

“The Finger Lakes National Forest is an Upstate treasure, and the Trump administration’s plan to increase logging in the area would be catastrophic for the environment and devastating for the thousands of New Yorkers who flock to the area to hike, hunt, and fish,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am urging the Trump administration to listen to the concerns of the local community and pause any plans for additional commercial logging.”

In a letter to the U.S. Forest Service chief, Schumer and Gillibrand explained that Trump’s executive order could hurt the Finger Lakes National Forest habitat and lead to water-quality issues due to increased runoff into Seneca and Cayuga lakes and increased wildfire risks. The Senators also urged the administration to reverse recent cuts of the dedicated staff and rangers who are vital for the forest’s stewardship, visitor services, and forest health.  The reduced number of staff jeopardizes regular maintenance of the forest, including replanting native trees in the section of forest lost to invasive Emerald Ash Borer infestations. Citing a report from the U.S. Forest Service on FLNF and Green Mountain, the senators described how the Finger Lakes National Forest supports over $174 million in annual revenue from recreational activities which would be threatened with increased logging. The senators said preventing logging is vital to protecting the surrounding lakes, biodiversity, and the vibrant recreation economy, from hikers to sportsmen, to fishermen, and more. They also emphasized that is necessary to ensure New Yorkers and all Americans can access the forest today and for generations to come.

Yvonne Taylor, Co-Founder and Vice President, Seneca Lake Guardian said, “Senators Schumer and Gillibrands’ leadership to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest affirms what so many of us in the region know in our hearts: that this forest is not a timber commodity that can be bought. It is a sacred public treasure that fuels our economy, safeguards our environment, and belongs to future generations. We urge the Forest Service to heed their call, retain the dedicated staff that defend the forest, and protect this irreplaceable landscape.”

Schumer has a long history of pushing for the preservation and protection of the Finger Lakes National Forest, dating back to 2001 when he co-sponsored legislation to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest from gas drilling and exploration. In subsequent years, Schumer has pushed for moratoriums on logging within the forest.

Schumer and Gillibrand’s letter to Chief of the Forest Service Tom Schultz can be found HERE or below:

Dear Forest Service Chief Schultz:

We write to strongly oppose increased logging and staff reductions at the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) following recent executive actions and budget decisions. It is imperative to the ecological health of this ecosystem and the Finger Lakes vital tourism industry you ensure that additional FLNF trees will not be unnecessarily cut down, subject to commercial logging, and you immediately reverse recent staff cuts that threaten the ongoing health of the Forest.  The Administration must respect the unique ecological, economic, and recreational value of this treasured public resource and the Upstate NY communities it sustains.

The Finger Lakes National Forest is more than a beautiful landscape – it is a living asset for the region, supporting tourism, recreation, and a healthy environment, while also serving as a source of pride for generations of Upstate New Yorkers. According to a report from the U.S. Forest Service, the Finger Lakes National Forest supports over $174 million in annual revenue from recreational activities. The natural beauty and economic benefits this landscape provides far outweighs any potential profits from future timber sales and the Forest Service must take every step to ensure the sustainable management of the Forest. Because the Forest Service already supports logging on up to 800 acres of FLNF land specifically for forest health, it is unclear why additional logging in the FLNF is necessary or productive, and local communities are justifiably concerned this could threaten the economic and environmental health of the region.

We are alarmed by new reports of significant staff reductions at the FLNF, leaving just a handful of rangers to oversee more than 16,000 acres. The cuts of the dedicated staff and rangers who are vital for the forest’s stewardship, visitor services, and forest health are wrong and seriously undermine the FLNF’s ecological integrity and it’s enjoyment by the public.  The reduced number of staff will jeopardize regular maintenance of the forest, including replanting native trees in the section of forest lost to invasive Emerald Ash Borer infestations. Without full staffing, the Forest health could be compromised, jeopardizing the countless jobs and economic benefits it supports in the surrounding communities.

Many in the Finger Lakes region – residents, environmental groups, small businesses, and local governments – have raised their voices out of concern for the future of the Forest. The community deserves immediate answers on what the U.S. Forest Service’s future plans are for the Finger Lakes and we urge the U.S. Forest Service and USDA to immediately:

• Restore Fiscal Year 2024 staffing levels across Finger Lakes National Forest operations and invest in the jobs needed for forest stewardship, restoration, and public safety.
• Remove the Finger Lakes National Forest from any consideration for increased logging.
• Engage directly with local communities, conservation organizations, and forestry professionals before taking any action affecting the FLNF.
• Ensure that any prior commitments to replanting and habitat restoration, especially following previous clear-cutting for ash borer mitigation, are fully funded and completed.
• Publish a justification detailing the increased acreage that would be logged beyond current activities supporting forest health, describing whether the administration intends to clear cut or sustainably thin areas of the Forest, which areas are too sensitive for logging activities, which areas would be avoided due to recreational activities, how threatened and endangered species would be protected or avoided when logging, and the necessary staff increases to complete these actions.
• Publish the Forest Service’s plan for public engagement, including input from New York forestry experts regarding any potential plans to log the FLNF.

The Finger Lakes National Forest is a unique ecological and economic asset. Any changes to its management or staffing should strengthen – not weaken – its role as a model for conservation, recreation, and sustainable rural development.

We look forward to your prompt response on this timely concern and stand ready to work with you and the community to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

###