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Forest Service, BLM ask for public input on old growth, mature trees

A couple of federal public lands agencies are asking for input on forest management.

In April, the Biden administration asked the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to inventory the country’s old growth and mature forests, which can play a role in offsetting the effects of climate change.

But the definition of what constitutes an old growth or mature tree can get blurry, so the agencies are asking for public input.

“You know as trees grow, they store a lot of carbon," said Randi Spivak, of the Center for Biological Diversity. "They continue to store a lot of carbon, they actually become more fire resistant because of their thick bark and high branches.”

You can find out how to comment by going to federalregister.gov.

Ron Dungan was a senior field correspondent at KJZZ from 2020 to 2024.