Roots of the future: Sign the NWFP’s 30th Birthday Card!

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Join us in celebrating a monumental milestone -- the 30th birthday of the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), a groundbreaking achievement in environmental conservation. This special occasion marks three decades since public activism, strategic litigation, organizing, and advocacy delivered a plan to conserve our ancient forests, protect countless species, and provide a blueprint for sustainable ecosystem management.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the iconic ancient forests that define our region were on track to be completely lost to logging.

As we commemorate this important milestone, the timing couldn’t be more important -- the US Forest Service recently initiated the process to amend the Northwest Forest Plan. The Sierra Club and its partners are already engaging with the proposed amendment process. If done well, the amendment could enhance protections for our old-growth forests across the National Forest System, and ensure the NWFP is positioned to address today’s challenges, including climate change, wildfires, and the inclusion of tribal communities and indigenous knowledge.

Your voice has never been more critical. As we reflect on the successes of the past 30 years, we are also looking forward, determined to ensure these amendments honor the original plan’s intent and foundation. This is where you come in.

Sign the NWFP’s 30th Birthday Card to celebrate three decades of conservation success and take a stand for the future. By signing, you’re not just wishing the Northwest Forest Plan a happy birthday; you’re expressing your interest in joining our campaign to protect and strengthen this vital environmental safeguard.

As you sign, we invite you to share a personal message: Tell us what brought you to the Northwest, your favorite trail in a National Forest, why you cherish this region, or why the conservation of our magnificent public forests matters to you. These stories are the lifeblood of our movement, inspiring action and reminding us all why our forests need to be defended now more than ever.

Your signature on this card is a pledge to work alongside us, ensuring that the legacy of the Northwest Forest Plan endures and evolves to meet the challenges of our changing world. Let’s come together to advocate for a future where our forests, and the life they support, are preserved for generations to come. We will be sharing responses with decision-makers to make sure they know how important these forests are to the people of the region, and that any amendments to the NWFP must retain the original intent and framework.

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Celebrating 30 Years of NWFP: Decades of Adventures & Growth Ahead!

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I am pleased that the U.S. Forest Service is preparing to update the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), which remains one of the most important forest protection and management policies in the United States. The 17 national forests governed by the plan are vital for the well-being of both people and wildlife in the region. In addition to offering numerous ecosystem services like clean air and water, they provide local communities with many tangible economic benefits. As such, an amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan should consider the needs of both people and the environment. The NWFP has served the people and the environment of the Northwest beyond measure. After 30 years, we know the foundation is strong and the science-based principles that guided ecosystem-level management were ahead of their time. As an update to the NWFP is developed, land managers must not tamper with its core framework and structure. These include the scope of the plan (National Forests lands across the western part of the region) and central pillars (protections for late-successional and old-growth forests, aquatic conservation strategies including protections for riparian areas, and robust standards and guidelines to achieve protection and management objectives). An amendment to the Northwest Forest Plan should pay particular attention to conserving both mature and old-growth forests across the boundaries of the Plan area. This strategy would also be in accord with President Biden's Executive Order to conserve mature and old-growth forests on federal lands. These older forests offer unique habitats that species like the northern spotted owl and salmon need for survival, and are culturally important for many different communities--including Tribal Nations. These forests are increasingly rare in the United States, and face escalating threats from climate change impacts. They are also essential carbon sinks that help with addressing climate change. To that end, an amendment should take specific steps to address severe wildfires. Since the Northwest Forest Plan's initial development, wildfires have grown in size, strength, and frequency. The Forest Service should reassess current management strategies in light of escalating wildfire threats and consider incorporating prescribed burning and Indigenous cultural burning practices. In general, consultation with local Tribal Nations and incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge will be critical steps for the Forest Service to take in amending the Northwest Forest Plan. Lastly, an amendment should consider the Pacific Northwest's current socioeconomic landscape and the importance that national forests play in the regional economy. Tourism and recreation draw more people to the region than ever before, spurring new job creation and growth in rural economies. An amendment should be sensitive to the socioeconomic needs of local communities and protect these forests for generations to come. Thank you for considering local voices in amending the Northwest Forest Plan.