Stop dirty industries from destroying the last Longleaf Pine forests!

Over 100,000 acres of forests are clear-cut each year -- including mature, native hardwoods -- to produce wood pellets.

The wood pellet industry is rapidly expanding -- while it destroys our last longleaf pine forests. We need your help to demand Congress protect these forests and others across the United States.

Dear Member of Congress,

I am deeply concerned that wood pellets produced from clear-cutting Longleaf pine forests could soon be further incentivized by Congress. The logging industry has been responsible for widespread destruction, cutting down old growth and hardwood forests while destroying the surrounding ecosystem. There are a number of bills in the House and Senate, such as H.R.1512 and S.1359 that would create and extend incentives for the biomass industry to continue destroying our forests and burning wood pellets as so called “clean” energy. The rapid destruction of the Longleaf pine forests demonstrates that there is nothing renewable or sustainable about clear-cutting forests. Destroying old growth forests and burning wood pellets for energy is not a climate solution.

Our forests provide a myriad of tangible and intangible value. They are home to many unique and endangered species. Communities living near forests rely on them for natural soil and water management. These ecosystems prevent soil erosion and protect water quality in surrounding rivers, streams, and wetlands. Clear-cutting in the South East has padded polluter’s pockets while leaving locals at risk of increased flooding. As storms hit the South with increasing severity and frequency, the loss of forests that provide resiliency and soak up floodwater will have an increasing human cost.

Old growth and hardwood forests can sequester more carbon than younger monoculture forests. We should be protecting these forests, not cutting them down. Clear-cutting and burning these trees not only releases all stored carbon immediately, but we also lose a vast amount of future carbon sequestration potential. Burning wood produces more GHG than even coal. Yet loggers and the wood pellet industry continue to profit off incentives meant for renewable energy development.

I urge you to reject any bill or federal energy standard that incentivizes false climate solutions, such as burning wood pellets.

Sincerely,
{user_data~First name} {user_data~Last name}
{user_data~City}, {user_data~State} {user_data~Postcode}

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