Land Mature Direct

: Significant accumulation of aboveground biomass and standing dead wood (snags). Strategic Importance & Threats

In 2023, the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published the first-ever national inventory of on federal lands. This report was a requirement of Executive Order 14072, which aimed to identify and protect these critical ecosystems to combat climate change. Core Findings of the Inventory

Mature lands are vital for because older trees store vast amounts of carbon. land mature

: The Forest Service manages the majority, with 67.4 million acres of mature forest and 24.4 million acres of old-growth. Defining "Mature" Land

: Account for roughly 32 million acres (18% of total federal forest land). This report was a requirement of Executive Order

: Abundance of large, older trees that have moved past the initial "self-thinning" young stage.

The USDA Forest Service and BLM manage approximately of forest land in the United States. Defining "Mature" Land : Account for roughly 32

Mature forests are a developmental stage that precedes old-growth. While definitions vary by forest type, general indicators include: