Boone and Crockett Club Thanks Rep. Westerman For Introducing Trillion Trees Act Calling for Improved Forest Management and Reforestation

MISSOULA, Mont.  – The Boone and Crockett Club welcomed yesterday’s introduction of the Trillion Trees Act by House Natural Resource Committee Ranking Member Representative Bruce Westerman. The bipartisan legislation would set a target of restoring one trillion trees worldwide through forest restoration, management, and utilization. This global effort would help sequester over 200 gigatons of carbon, an amount equivalent to two-thirds of all manmade emissions remaining in the atmosphere today.

“The Boone and Crockett Club supports Congressman Bruce Westerman’s Trillion Trees Act because the bipartisan bill supports forest restoration projects that will be critical in addressing the impacts of a changing climate,” said Jim Arnold, president of the Boone and Crockett Club. “The Trillion Trees Act provides funding to promote urban and rural reforestation, prioritizes work where forests can store more carbon, and accelerates projects that restore National Forests at high risk of wildfires.”

The Trillion Trees Act focuses on reforestation, forest management, and timber utilization. Restoration and management of America’s national forests can help protect our communities, municipal water supplies, and fish and wildlife habitat. Active forest management such as harvesting trees, thinning dead and dying trees, creating fuel breaks, prescribed and managed burns, and creating defensible spaces are all effective tools to reduce wildfire threats while also improving habitat and helping to sequester carbon. In addition, the lumber produced by these forest management efforts will lock up carbon in long-lasting wood products and create better growing conditions for the next stand of trees, which will sequester even more carbon. One key component of the Trillion Trees Act includes permanent reauthorization for Good Neighbor Authority that allows federal, state, and local partners to share in cooperative forest management projects.

“The Boone and Crockett Club thanks Congressman Westerman for his leadership on this critical issue and looks forward to working with Congress to advance this important legislation,” Arnold concluded.