Victory! U.S. Forest Service Cancels Logging Plans In North Carolina’s Biodiverse Nantahala Forest

On Friday, the U.S. Forest Service announced its decision to cancel logging plans for a biologically significant area near North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest along the Whitewater River. This move follows a lawsuit by environmental groups against the agency regarding the proposed logging, nearly six months ago.

Nantahala is a rugged temperate forest characterized by high peaks, deep gorges, waterfalls, and flowing rivers in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains. Recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, these ancient mountains are home to 10,000 species, including turtles, trout, black bears, elk, river otters, beavers, and bald eagles.

“This wild and beautiful forest was saved because people spoke up to defend it,” said Will Harlan, Southeast director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Even though the public overwhelmingly supports protecting special places like the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, the new forest plan tragically fails to do that. Unless the plan is changed to protect important forests and streams, more legal fights are probably going to be the only way to ensure that the public’s voice is heard.”

“We have been pointing out problems with the agency’s logging plans for this area for years. It’s a shame we had to take them to court to achieve this outcome, but we’re glad this incredible area is no longer on the chopping block,” said Patrick Hunter, managing attorney of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Asheville office. “Unfortunately, the new forest plan sets us up for more of these conflicts in the future. National forests in western North Carolina — and the people who enjoy them — deserve better.”

The area spared from logging sits above stunning waterfalls. It boasts towering trees and shelters rare plants in a unique, wet microclimate. The Service slated the area for heavy logging in the controversial Southside timber project.

“We applaud the Forest Service for agreeing to drop their illegitimate plan for logging in a special interest area next to the Whitewater River. Regretfully, it took filing a lawsuit and six months of negotiations to prompt the recalcitrant Forest Service to abide by federal law, to save one unique stand of our national forest,” said Nicole Hayler, director of the Chattooga Conservancy.

“The rest of the damaging Southside project still is on the chopping block, while the new Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan is on deck with its mandates for escalating logging in sensitive areas — fueling more controversy and conflict that further undermines public trust in Forest Service managers,” continued Hayler.

Recognizing the forest’s remarkable ecological importance and breathtaking scenery, the Service labeled it a “Special Interest Area” in the newly released Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan. These designated areas impose strict limitations on harmful activities such as logging and road construction.

The lawsuit was filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center, on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Chattooga Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, MountainTrue, and Sierra Club. The groups agreed to voluntarily dismiss the lawsuit once the agency agreed to abandon its logging proposal.

The Service’s previous decision to move forward with the logging project contradicted its own designation and violated federal law.