Senators say Trump’s order threatens NY’s only national forest and the $174M Finger Lakes recreation economy.
U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are urging the U.S. Forest Service to halt a federal push that would increase logging in the Finger Lakes National Forest, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. The order directs the agency to increase national timber production by 25%, raising concerns across Upstate New York.
In a letter to Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, the senators warn that the move could have disastrous impacts on the local environment, water quality, biodiversity, and tourism-based economy.
Trump’s executive order prompts local alarm
The executive action, issued during Trump’s administration and now under review, calls for a significant expansion of logging across U.S. national forests—including the 16,000-acre Finger Lakes National Forest, the only one of its kind in New York State. Environmental groups and local communities say the measure prioritizes timber profits over ecological and economic sustainability.
Senator Schumer criticized the plan sharply, comparing it to reckless deforestation.
“Even the Once-ler in The Lorax would scoff at this,” said Schumer. “We cannot let our forest be ripped away from our kids, and the tens of thousands who visit the Finger Lakes every year.”
A call to reverse staffing cuts and protect Upstate lands
Schumer and Gillibrand argue that the forest already allows logging on up to 800 acres for health and safety reasons. Expanding beyond that, they say, could result in widespread environmental degradation. The senators also want staff levels restored, noting that only a handful of rangers now oversee the vast territory.
In their letter, they demand that the Forest Service:
- Restore 2024 staffing levels to support stewardship and public safety
- Exclude Finger Lakes National Forest from any expanded logging plans
- Engage with local stakeholders before implementing new policies
- Fully fund habitat restoration efforts, especially in areas affected by the Emerald Ash Borer
- Publicly justify any additional logging plans, including environmental protections
Economic and environmental stakes
According to a report cited by the senators, recreational activities in the forest contribute over $174 million annually to the local economy. Thousands of visitors hike, hunt, and fish in the area each year—activities that expanded logging could undermine.
Yvonne Taylor, Co-Founder of Seneca Lake Guardian, applauded the senators’ stance:
“This forest is not a timber commodity that can be bought. It is a sacred public treasure that fuels our economy and safeguards our environment.”
What happens next
Schumer and Gillibrand say they will continue pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Forest Service to halt any logging expansion and to publish a detailed public engagement plan. With growing local opposition and mounting environmental concerns, the future of the Finger Lakes National Forest remains a critical issue for the region.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].