President Biden’s Climate Agenda Includes Private Forests

As promised during his campaign, President Biden has focused on climate change since taking office in January, and the role that forests play in capturing carbon from the atmosphere continues to be elevated in discussions around potential solutions to the nation’s environmental challenges.

Thus far, Mr. Biden has signed two executive orders focusing on climate change. Of the many concepts included in these orders, the 30×30 initiative is presently at the forefront of those expected to have a direct effect on private forests. This initiative aims to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and the USDA is currently collecting input on this policy from foresters, farmers, and other stakeholders.

As the president and Congress begin to shape far-reaching environmental and tax policies, it is imperative that the forestry community work to educate our elected officials on the many significant contributions that private working forests not only make in the ability of trees to capture and store carbon, but in clean water and air, wildlife habitat, jobs, supporting rural communities, and a sustainable supply of wood and fiber for building products, paper and packaging, and hundreds of other items consumers use every day.

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