This Land Isn’t Safe Yet
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The political fight for America’s national forests—and why we can’t look away.
We like to think of forests as eternal.
Tall trees. Cold rivers. Wild creatures moving through ancient landscapes like they always have. But the truth is: public lands don’t protect themselves. And lately, they’re under fire—again.
Behind the mist and the beauty and the peace you feel out there, there’s a political storm brewing. And it’s putting everything we love about our national forests at risk.
🌲 What’s Happening?
From budget cuts to industry pressure, America’s national forests are being squeezed from all sides. Here's what we’re up against:
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Rollbacks on environmental protections
Key protections under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Roadless Rule—which prevent logging, mining, and road building in pristine forests—have faced repeated attacks. -
Increased extractive use
Logging, drilling, and grazing interests are pushing for more access to public forest land. That means more roads, more disruption, and more short-term profit over long-term preservation. -
Underfunding of the U.S. Forest Service
The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of public land—but with aging infrastructure, shrinking budgets, and massive wildfire responsibility, they’re stretched thin and under-supported. -
Privatization pressure
Some lawmakers and lobby groups continue to push for the transfer of public lands to state control—which historically leads to increased privatization or sale to private developers.
🧭 Why This Matters to You
If you love hiking, camping, fishing, stargazing, or simply knowing there's still wild space out there—you’ve got skin in this game.
National forests are:
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Home to over 3,000 species of wildlife
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The source of clean water for 1 in 5 Americans
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A carbon sink, helping to fight climate change
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Some of the last truly public land we have left
What happens to them, happens to all of us.
💚 What Lonely Larch Is Doing
We don’t believe in staying neutral when it comes to public lands.
We partner with conservation groups like the National Forest Foundation because they’re in the trenches—planting trees, fighting for access, and doing the hard, necessary work.
And we speak up. In every bag of coffee or tea we sell, there’s a message: this isn’t just about caffeine. It’s about conservation with teeth.
✊ What You Can Do
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Stay informed.
Follow updates from groups like the NFF, the Wilderness Society, and Earthjustice. -
Call your representatives.
Tell them public lands matter to you. Ask where they stand on issues like NEPA, land transfer, and forest funding. -
Support brands that give back.
Where you spend your money is a vote. Let it count. -
Get involved locally.
Join a trail crew. Show up to a public hearing. Plant trees. Speak up in your community.
This isn’t just policy.
It’s the future of our forests, our kids’ trailheads, and our collective right to wild space.
And we won’t let it go quietly.
Drink up. Speak up. Let’s keep it wild out there. 🌲