DOLORES, Colo.— Forest health advocates have finalized an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service that will preserve tens of thousands of the largest, oldest ponderosa pine trees in Colorado’s San Juan National Forest.

“Large, mature trees are critical for climate resilience, habitat and forest health” said John Rader, public lands program director for the San Juan Citizens Alliance. “We are pleased to reach a common-sense agreement that helps safeguard our forests from climate change and biodiversity loss.”

In June 2023 San Juan Citizens Alliance and the Center for Biological Diversity sued the Forest Service in federal court over its approval of a nearly 23,000-acre timber project in the Dolores District of the San Juan National Forest. The project area is a watershed for the Dolores River and provides important habitat for elk, mule deer and raptor, including imperiled goshawks. It was extensively logged throughout the 1900s, and few mature ponderosa pines remain.

“I’m so glad we’ve reached an agreement with the Forest Service that will lead to tangible, on-the-ground conservation for this magnificent, irreplaceable forest,” said Alli Henderson, southern Rockies director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “This agreement protects wildlife habitat and preserves the biggest, oldest trees that store carbon and help fight climate change. It also sets the stage for nurturing more mature and old-growth forests for future generations.”

The remaining large and mature trees within the logging project area are critical for carbon storage, wildfire resilience and biodiversity. The Forest Service had approved logging trees up to nearly 27 inches in diameter across the entire project area, a measure that would have protected just 0.02% of the largest trees.

With the agreement, finalized Thursday, the Forest Service has committed to protecting the largest 10% of trees in each treatment block, with narrow exceptions for those overwhelmed by pine beetles and mistletoe. The Forest Service has also agreed to site visits with local stakeholders before and after logging in each block.

Large, mature trees are essential to fighting climate change, habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. This agreement helps ensure the San Juan National Forest remains resilient to those threats.