Protect the Finger Lakes National Forest from the Trump Administration’s Cuts and Expanded Timber Logging

Dear Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, and Governor Hochul,

The Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) is New York State’s only National Forest. This Haudenosaunee land was ultimately acquired by the federal government and turned into the public lands that now offer diverse recreation opportunities for hiking, skiing, camping, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and outdoor education. The FLNF has over 30 miles of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures and woodlands. It’s one of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s “Watchable Wildlife” list of places noted for their popularity and the easy access to see wildlife, especially birds. Drawing in visitors year-round, the forest is situated atop a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the northwest Schuyler and southwest Seneca Counties, and attracts visitors not only from this vicinity, but also from Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton which are all within a two-hour drive of the forest, and easily accessed from 1-90 and 1-81 and State Route 17. In the early 2000’s, the FLNF was engulfed by the same disputes about opening federal lands to oil and natural gas drilling that swirled around places like Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. An impassioned battle to protect the land included many New York officials who fought alongside hundreds of local residents, including Gov. E. George Pataki, Senator Charles E. Schumer, then Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and several other members of Congress. We ask for that same fervent and protective response from you today, as we have learned that on March 1, 2025, President Trump signed the “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” Executive Order, mandating federal agencies to expedite logging projects across national forests to enhance economic resilience and national security- thereby streamlining environmental reviews and accelerating timber harvests nationwide. The executive order states the following: “All relevant agencies shall eliminate, to the maximum extent permissible by law, all undue delays within their respective permitting processes related to timber production… all relevant agencies shall take all necessary and appropriate steps consistent with applicable law to suspend, revise, or rescind all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, and other agency actions that impose an undue burden on timber production.” Reports indicate that the FLNF is among those targeted for increased logging activities. While there has been some debate as to whether or not the FLNF has log-able timber beyond the current timber management projects geared toward the creation and improvement of wildlife habitat, maintenance of healthy and diverse natural communities (ecology) and the production of high value hardwood, many constituents have expressed apprehension, arguing that a federally mandated increase in logging of the FLNF could lead to habitat degradation, water quality issues, and increased wildfire risks. We recognize that responsible forestry should be a part of the forest land management, but it is clear that with this executive order, that is not the protocol that would be implemented. In addition, the Trump administration’s termination of thousands of employees with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service has already impacted the FLNF, leaving only 3 employees for the entire FLNF, and the Ranger Station is now open only one day per week. These cuts will result in a lack of available employees to replant indigenous trees on an area of the forest that was clear-cut to avoid the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, among other important maintenance, recreational and educational responsibilities typically required by these suspended employees. We ask that you help us with the following: 1.) Request that a Public Meeting be held that includes FLNF Rangers, local experienced loggers, and concerned constituents to discuss the potential for and applicability of increased logging in the FLNF, the impacts, and how to protect it. 2.) Request that the Federal Executive Order be amended to protect the FLNF from increased logging by the federal government. 3.) Immediately do whatever is within your power to support the reinstatement of FLNF employees. Respectfully,

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Dear Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, and Governor Hochul:

The Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) is New York State’s only National Forest. This Haudenosaunee land was ultimately acquired by the federal government and turned into the public lands that now offer diverse recreation opportunities for hiking, skiing, camping, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, and outdoor education. The FLNF has over 30 miles of interconnecting trails that traverse gorges, ravines, pastures and woodlands. It’s one of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s “Watchable Wildlife” list of places noted for their popularity and the easy access to see wildlife, especially birds.

Drawing in visitors year-round, the forest is situated atop a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes in the northwest Schuyler and southwest Seneca Counties, and attracts visitors not only from this vicinity, but also from Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton which are all within a two-hour drive of the forest, and easily accessed from 1-90 and 1-81 and State Route 17.

In the early 2000’s, the FLNF was engulfed by the same disputes about opening federal lands to oil and natural gas drilling that swirled around places like Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. An impassioned battle to protect the land included many New York officials who fought alongside hundreds of local residents, including Gov. E. George Pataki, Senator Charles E. Schumer, then Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and several other members of Congress.

We ask for that same fervent and protective response from you today, as we have learned that on March 1, 2025, President Trump signed the “Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production” Executive Order, mandating federal agencies to expedite logging projects across national forests to enhance economic resilience and national security- thereby streamlining environmental reviews and accelerating timber harvests nationwide.

The executive order states the following:

“All relevant agencies shall eliminate, to the maximum extent permissible by law, all undue delays within their respective permitting processes related to timber production… all relevant agencies shall take all necessary and appropriate steps consistent with applicable law to suspend, revise, or rescind all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, and other agency actions that impose an undue burden on timber production.”

Reports indicate that the FLNF is among those targeted for increased logging activities.

While there has been some debate as to whether or not the FLNF has log-able timber beyond the current timber management projects geared toward the creation and improvement of wildlife habitat, maintenance of healthy and diverse natural communities (ecology) and the production of high value hardwood, many constituents have expressed apprehension, arguing that a federally mandated increase in logging of the FLNF could lead to habitat degradation, water quality issues, and increased wildfire risks. We recognize that responsible forestry should be a part of the forest land management, but it is clear that with this executive order, that is not the protocol that would be implemented.

In addition, the Trump administration’s termination of thousands of employees with the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service has already impacted the FLNF, leaving only 3 employees for the entire FLNF, and the Ranger Station is now open only one day per week. These cuts will result in a lack of available employees to replant indigenous trees on an area of the forest that was clear-cut to avoid the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, among other important maintenance, recreational and educational responsibilities typically required by these suspended employees.

We ask that you help us with the following:

1.) Request that a Public Meeting be held that includes FLNF Rangers, local experienced loggers, and concerned constituents to discuss the potential for and applicability of increased logging in the FLNF, the impacts, and how to protect it.