Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on April 3 issued a Secretarial Memo to establish a “Emergency Situation Determination” that aims to empower the U.S. Forest Service to expedite efforts to reduce wildfire risk on National Forest System lands.&nbsp;“We can manage our forests to better provide domestic timber supply, create jobs and prosperity, reduce wildfire disasters, improve fish and wildlife habitats, and decrease costs of construction and energy,” Rollins wrote in the memo.The memo is related to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on March 1 calling for an immediate expansion of U.S. timber production. “The production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products (timber production) is critical to our Nation’s well-being,” said Trump in the executive order. “Timber production is essential for crucial human activities like construction and energy production.&nbsp;Furthermore, as recent disasters demonstrate, forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects can save American lives and communities.”Rollins’ memo aims to empower the Forest Service “to expedite work on the ground and carry out authorized emergency actions to reduce wildfire risk and save American lives and communities.” According to the USDA, the memo will spur immediate action, directing Forest Service field leadership “to&nbsp;remove National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, reduce implementation and contracting burdens, and to work directly with states, local government, and forest product producers to ensure that the Forest Service delivers a reliable and consistent supply of timber.”The memo, in part, directs all Regional Foresters to develop 5-year strategies to increase their timber volume offered, with the goal to achieve a 25% increase agency-wide over the next four to five years.&nbsp;Rollins’ emergency declaration applies to nearly 112.65 million acres of National Forestry System lands.&nbsp;Additional information is available on the USDA <a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/04/04/secretary-rollins-announces-sweeping-reforms-protect-national-forests-and-boost-domestic-timber">website</a>.&nbsp;

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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on April 3 issued a Secretarial Memo to establish a “Emergency Situation Determination” that aims to empower the U.S. Forest Service to expedite efforts to reduce wildfire risk on National Forest System lands. 

Rollins issues memo directing Forest Service to boost timber production

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