My journey towards becoming a park ranger in college has made me acutely aware of the threats our precious national forests face. It is disheartening to learn about the potential of these magnificent ecosystems, home to countless species, being destroyed. Our current administration has plans that could devastate these steadfast symbols of nature's resilience.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Trump administration's policies could open up more than half of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to logging and road construction. Our national forests not only act as crucial habitats for wildlife but also play an essential role in climate change mitigation. The U.S. Forest Service acknowledges that our forests offset approximately 14.6% of U.S. CO2 emissions annually.

These invaluable reserves of biodiversity and natural beauty are being threatened by logging, drilling, and other industrial activities. Let our voices join together in a call for protection, not destruction, of our national forests. We need to send a clear message that the stewardship of these forests should focus on ecosystems and biodiversity, not short-term economic gains. Please sign the petition, make your voice count in defense of our national forests from imminent demolition and drilling.