ASHEVILLE, N.C.— In a major victory for North Carolina’s national forests, communities and endangered species, the U.S. Forest Service cancelled a logging operation in the Pisgah National Forest. That win prompted the Center for Biological Diversity, Southern Environmental Law Center and MountainTrue on Dec. 15 to voluntarily dismiss their lawsuit challenging the logging operation.

The groups sued last month to halt the logging, and days later the U.S. Forest Service cancelled the logging and the logging equipment was withdrawn.

“One of the country’s wildest gorges was spared additional harm because local communities spoke up. They saved an exceptional forest, imperiled wildlife, and a world-class river,” said Will Harlan, Southeast director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Unfortunately, wild places will continue to be targeted by this administration, so we’ll keep standing shoulder to shoulder with communities to protect our beloved forests and rivers.”

The Service described the logging as intended to remove storm debris, but much of the project area is healthy, intact forest. When conservation groups asked the agency to limit logging to portions of the area with storm damage, the agency refused, prompting the lawsuit.

Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the Service stopped the logging operation and equipment was removed from the site. Fewer than 20 acres were logged on the 120-acre tract, and logging stopped before it harmed the healthy, intact portion. The conservation groups voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit on Monday, after the agency canceled the contract.

“North Carolina’s national forests are full of natural wonders that support local economies and are sources of immense pride for nearby communities. Public notice, transparency, and accountability are the absolute bare minimum of what the Forest Service owes our communities before it opens these forests for logging,” said Sam Evans, leader of SELC’s national forests and parks program. “As long as the Forest Service refuses to do even that bare minimum, we are going to continue to haul them into court.”

The logging project ignored the agency’s own Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan, which directs the Service to manage the area as undeveloped backcountry and a reserve for old-growth forests. The project area, designated as a North Carolina Natural Heritage Natural Area, is home to rare plants and sits on steep slopes above the Nolichucky River — a world-famous whitewater rafting destination. Logging in this area threatened to leave permanent scars on the landscape, pollute the Nolichucky River and imperil the area’s incredible backcountry qualities.

However, even the small area logged will leave long-lasting scars as roads were bulldozed from the riverbanks into the backcountry. The agency has presented to plans to fix these roads.

“Unfortunately, it seems like this hide-the-ball strategy is becoming more and more common with the Forest Service, leaving the public and nearby communities in the dark about what is happening on our incredible shared public lands,” said Josh Kelly, resilient forests program director at MountainTrue. “We encourage folks to keep an eye out and to reach out to local conservation organizations if you see something concerning.”