Biden signs order during Seattle visit to protect old-growth forests from fire

SEATTLE — President Joe Biden is taking steps to restore national forests that have been devastated by wildfires, drought and blight.

Biden is using an Earth Day visit to Seattle, where he signed an executive order protecting some of the nation’s largest and oldest trees.

>>Biden visits Seattle for first time as president

Old-growth trees are key buffers against climate change and absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.

Biden’s order directs federal land managers to define and inventory mature and old-growth forests nationwide within a year.

The order signed Friday at Seward Park requires officials to identify threats to older trees, such as wildfire and climate change, and develop policies to safeguard them.

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