Wildfire is a serious threat in our state, impacting our communities and the wild places we cherish. Yet, we must be wary of misguided responses, such as the recent Trump administration memo directing increased logging on 60 percent of our national forests under the false pretense of a “wildfire emergency.”

Notably, this directive provides no credible evidence of an actual emergency. Instead, it appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to justify destructive logging practices, boost corporate profits, and limit the public’s right to raise concerns. For example, it circumvents the environmental review process.

If the administration genuinely prioritized protecting communities from wildfires, it would not be simultaneously slashing federal funding, firing Forest Service employees, and dismantling critical climate change initiatives.

Aggressive logging under this fabricated “emergency” rationale will only exacerbate wildfire risks. Our mature and old-growth forests, though coveted for timber, are precisely the ecosystems most resilient to fire. They also sequester great amounts of carbon, and they are irreplaceable.

As a hiker, birder, and camper, protecting our public lands matters deeply to me. I urge our local and state leaders to stand firm in protecting our public lands from harmful federal mismanagement.

Cynthia Jones

Edmonds