Porcupine Run and Madlick Projects Approved After 2023 Environmental Assessments

After two years of no action, the Trump administration has approved 3,600 acres of clearcutting and 4,000 acres of herbicides in the Porcupine Run and Madlick Projects. Conservationists contend these logging practices compromise forest health.

“Where plan components will allow clearcutting, seed tree cutting, shelterwood cutting, or other cuts designed to regenerate an even-aged stand of timber, the plan must include standards limiting the maximum size for openings that may be cut in one harvest operation, according to geographic areas, forest types, or other suitable classifications. Except as provided in paragraphs (d)(4)(i) through (iii) of this section, this limit may not exceed … 40 acres”

The two projects would create 12 clearcuts greater than 40 acres in size ranging from 56 to 266 acres and averaging 126  acres in size.

“Clearcuts are supposed to be limited to 40 acres, but the US Forest Service has exploited loopholes to justify these harmful clearcuts,” said Allegheny Forest Defense Project Organizer Jayne Kleissler. “They claim that they need to clearcut because of forest health issues – but the #1 forest health issue on the Allegheny National Forest is clearcutting.”

The US Forest Service uses “Shelterwood Removal” and “Overstory Removal” clearcuts in order to “overwhelm the deer” with too much food to browse. But this creates short-term increases in localized deer populations – and undermines forest conservation efforts. They then use manual cutting, herbicides, fencing, and fertilizers to promote “desirable species” which themselves are dying off.

Conservationists complain that the Allegheny National Forest has been illegally managed to promote black cherry trees over other native tree species such as Eastern Hemlock and American Beech. While black cherry makes up only 0.8% of the native forest, due to manipulative management practices, it now makes up over 25% of the trees in the forest. And black cherry is now dying off at alarming rates.

“The Trump Administration is using real threats to forest health to justify further compromising biodiversity through clearcuts and herbicides. But we know after 30+ years of these practices that these practices lead to forest decline,” said Jayne Kleissler.