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

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

The USDA Forest Service and BLM manage approximately of forest land in the United States. land mature

: Account for roughly 32 million acres (18% of total federal forest land).

: Significant accumulation of aboveground biomass and standing dead wood (snags). Strategic Importance & Threats : The Forest Service manages the majority, with 67

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

Mature lands are vital for because older trees store vast amounts of carbon. This report was a requirement of Executive Order

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