Rhode Island’s once-promising environmental safeguards began in the late 1970s with genuine efforts to protect its natural heritage. The state initially built systems to identify and preserve biodiversity hotspots and rare species habitats. But as the timber industry gained influence, these protections were systematically dismantled, leaving the state’s forests vulnerable to exploitation.

FOREST PROTECTION EFFORTS BEGIN

• 1978 – The Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program was established under the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to identify, monitor, and protect biodiversity for the state. This included putting together a list of rare and endangered species in Rhode Island. The habitats where these rare and endangered species live are now known as the state’s Natural Heritage Areas. The Natural Heritage Program was also occasionally asked to conduct environmental review before land developments to make sure no rare or endangered species were disturbed.
• 1993 – In an effort led by The Nature Conservancy, the Natural Areas Protection Act of 1993 was passed into law, RIGL 42-122. This legislation required the DEM to designate rare and environmentally sensitive habitats as Natural Area Preserves which would be protected in their natural state, meaning no logging. It was intended for the unprotected Natural Heritage Areas to be designated as Natural Area Preserves.

However, 32 years later, not one Natural Area Preserve has been designated, and no state-owned land is currently protected from logging. The Nature Conservancy for some reason did not push for the Natural Area Preserves to be designated.

FOREST PROTECTION EFFORTS SHUT DOWN

By the mid-1990s, Rhode Island’s conservation framework began to collapse under pressure from logging interests. DEM started clearcutting native forests in environmentally sensitive areas, using the “Young Forest Initiative” as cover. This marked the beginning of a troubling retreat from forest protection that would eventually dismantle decades of conservation work.

• 1995 – DEM begins clearcutting native forests in the publicly owned Great Swamp Management Area, all in a Natural Heritage Area. This was in following with the Young Forest Initiative, a scam where mature natural forest is clearcut to create unnatural, early successional habitat to sustain gaming species for hunters and provide timber to the timber industry.
• 2007 – DEM ends the RI Natural Heritage Program.
• 2008 – DEM begins clearcutting the native forests in the publicly owned Buck Hill Management Area as part of the Young Forest Initiative scam.

TIMBER INDUSTRY ORGANIZES FOR POLITICAL POWER

In 2013, the timber industry orchestrated a strategic coalition to advance its interests in Rhode Island. Under the innocuous-sounding “Woodland Partnership,” logging proponents enlisted state agencies and—most troublingly—major environmental organizations to support expanded cutting operations. The strategy worked; soon, chainsaws were roaring across public lands and nature preserves.

• 2013 – Rhode Island Woodland Partnership is established for the purpose of expanding the timber industry in Rhode Island and getting the state’s environmental groups to support increased logging in the state calling it the deceiving name, “forest management.” The original member organizations of the Woodland Partnership include DEM, the University of Rhode Island (URI), the RI Resource Conservation and Development Area Council (RIRC&D), the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the USDA, and the RI Forest Conservators Organization (RIFCO).

Later, the RI Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, the RI Land Trust Council, Save The Bay, and the RI Tree Council all joined the Woodland Partnership.

• 2011-2014 – A forest is clearcut in the Queen’s River Preserve, owned by The Nature Conservancy, through a grant by NRCS to create early-successional habitat as part of the Young Forest Initiative scam.
• 2020 – In a logging project, 195 acres of native forest is clearcut in the publicly owned Arcadia Management Area, creating a hole in the forest that can be seen from satellite maps.

TIMBER INDUSTRY GATHERS ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS INTO ITS POLITICAL NETWORK

The timber industry’s influence expanded dramatically when it co-opted Rhode Island’s leading biodiversity organization as its public platform. The Natural History Survey began hosting pro-logging partnership meetings on its YouTube channel while the state created a “Forest Conservation Commission” packed with timber industry advocates—a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse.

• December 2020 – The RI Natural History Survey, an environmental non-profit that claims to be the leading biodiversity group for the state, begins hosting the RI Woodland Partnership meetings on their YouTube channel, rinaturalhistory. The Natural History Survey is also a member group of the pro-logging RI Woodland Partnership.
• 2021 – The RI Forest Conservation Commission is created through the deceivingly titled “Rhode Island Forest Conservation Act,” RIGL 2-27, to promote the expansion of the timber industry in the state. Many members of the RI Woodland Partnership including both of its Co-Chairs are appointed as members of the RI Forest Conservation Commission.

A NEW STATE FOREST PROTECTION BILL IS INTRODUCED IN THE RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATURE

In 2022, a glimmer of hope emerged with the introduction of legislation to protect Rhode Island’s vanishing old-growth forests. The bill would have required environmental review before state logging operations—a basic safeguard for public lands. But behind closed doors, the timber industry and its environmental allies mobilized to kill the protection measure before it could gain traction.

• 2022 – RI Old Growth Forest Preservation Act H 7066, is introduced in the RI state legislature for the purpose of protecting Old Growth Forests on state-owned and municipal-owned land and requiring environmental review before state logging operations to ensure no old growth forests are disturbed.

This bill did not pass due to the RI Woodland Partnership working behind the scenes to defeat the bill. The Woodland Partnership members can even be heard attacking the bill in their January 2022 meeting.

The DEM, The Nature Conservancy, and the RI Land Trust Council submitted testimony against the bill, and the person who would later become Chair of the RI Forest Conservation Commission unsuccessfully tried to get the Chair of the RI House Environment and Natural Resources Committee to repeal the bill.

A NEW RHODE ISLAND FOREST PROTECTION GROUP IS CREATED

With established environmental groups failing to protect Rhode Island’s forests, a new organization emerged in the vacuum. The Old Growth Tree Society brought together scientific expertise and advocacy, including the former coordinator of the state’s shuttered Natural Heritage Program. Their mission: defend forests and biodiversity when no other environmental group would stand up to the timber industry.

• June 2022 – The Old Growth Tree Society (OGTS) is established as a Rhode Island non-profit devoted to protecting forests and biodiversity since no other RI environmental group was working to protect forests or rare and endangered species on public land. OGTS was founded by Nathan Cornell, who wrote the Old Growth Forest Preservation Act and led its advocacy, Rick Enser who was Coordinator of the RI Natural Heritage Program from 1981-2007 and co-founder of the RI Natural History Survey, and Rachel Briggs.

Since 2022, OGTS has been leading the effort to get the Old Growth Forest Protection Act passed, and to oppose the Forest Parity Act (Timber Industry Expansion Bill).

TIMBER INDUSTRY RAMPS UP EXPANSION EFFORTS

In early 2023, the timber industry pushed aggressive legislation to expand its reach across Rhode Island. The ironically named “Forest Parity Act” aimed to remove taxes on logging equipment and override local zoning restrictions—effectively greenlighting clearcuts in any district. This industry-written bill passed in the House but stalled in the Senate, setting the stage for what would come next.

• February 2023 – Forest Parity Act, H 5784, is introduced in the RI state legislature which is a bill to expand the timber industry in the state by removing the use and sales tax on logging equipment and expanding logging to all zoning districts. The bill would make it more profitable to clearcut forests in the state. The RI Forest Conservation Commission, RIFCO, and the state’s timber industry under the new name, “RI Wood Operators Organization,” submitted testimony supporting this bill. The bill passed in the House, but not in the Senate.

MASSIVE WILDFIRE STARTS IN LOGGED NATURE CONSERVANCY AREA, FIRE LIKELY STARTED BY UNAUTHORIZED HUMAN ACTIVITY

TIMBER INDUSTRY ILLOGICALLY CLAIMS MORE LOGGING IS SOLUTION

In a devastating case of unintended consequences, Rhode Island’s largest wildfire in half a century erupted in a clearcut area created by The Nature Conservancy. The logged area—with its dry slash piles, exposed underbrush, and wind corridors—created perfect fire conditions. Yet incredibly, the timber industry spun this disaster into an argument for more logging, not less. A Fire Commission packed with logging advocates twisted the evidence to serve industry interests.

• April 2023 – Largest wildfire in the past 50 years in Rhode Island burns over 200 acres in Exeter. The fire started in the Queen’s River Preserve in the 2011-2014 clearcut created by The Nature Conservancy and NRCS. The flammable wood slash left after the logging operation, the dry underbrush that grew due to the removed canopy allowing more sunlight to reach the forest floor, and the wind that was able to flow through from the lack of tree canopy created the perfect conditions for a wildfire when the human caused spark ignited in the clearcut.
• June 2023 – A Fire Commission is created in the RI House of Representatives for the purpose of using the Exeter Fire as an excuse to justify increased logging in Rhode Island. Many of the members appointed to this commission are timber industry advocates including RI Woodland Partnership members.

The Old Growth Forest Protection Act H 5344, which was introduced, fails to pass due to the RI Woodland Partnership working against the bill behind the scenes.

DEM and RIFCO both submitted testimony opposing the bill.

Creation of a Joint Old Growth Forest Study Commission failed to pass as well after the RI Forest Conservation Commission sent a letter to the RI General Assembly leadership to ask that they not create the commission.

• October 2023 – In an ecoRI News Letter to the Editor, the Director of the RI Natural History Survey stated that the Natural History Survey was not an advocacy group in order to work with DEM, after the Natural History Survey was accused by the Old Growth Tree Society of remaining silent as DEM clearcut in Natural Heritage Areas which kill rare and endangered species.
• January 2024 – Old Growth Forest Protection Act H 7293/ S 2299, is reintroduced in the RI State Legislature. In addition to protecting Old Growth Forests, this bill would bring back the RI Natural Heritage Program and amend the Natural Areas Protection Act of 1993, so the Natural Heritage Program would be able to designate Natural Area Preserves to finally protect the state’s Natural Heritage Areas.
• January-March 2024 – The RI House Fire Commission meets where they spread misinformation about how lack of logging, or as they term it “forest management” (in order to make it sound positive instead of destructive to forests) was the cause of the Exeter wildfire, while ignoring the evidence of how logging contributed to the wildfire.

In their final report, the commission proposed more forest management (more logging) which resulted in $5 million being allocated to more logging in the 2024 Green Bond.

The Forest Parity Act, H 7618, is also reintroduced in the RI State Legislature. In March, the President of the RI Wood Operators Organization, an active member of the American Logger’s Council, reveals in a Facebook message that he is the one who is behind the Forest Parity Act.

TIMBER INDUSTRY AND SO-CALLED ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION JOIN TO DESTROY RHODE ISLAND LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROTECT LAST OLD GROWTH FORESTS AND NATURAL HERITAGE AREAS IN RHODE ISLAND, INSTEAD SUPPORT INCREASED LOGGING

The mask finally dropped in 2024 as Rhode Island’s Environmental Council—supposedly a coalition of eco-advocates—rejected forest protection legislation. Not only did they refuse to endorse the Old Growth Forest Protection Act, but council leadership actively testified against it while supporting the logging industry’s bill. When forest defenders called out this betrayal, they were summarily expelled from the council in an unprecedented secret vote.

• May 2024 – Environmental Council of Rhode Island (ECRI) refuses to endorse the Old Growth Forest Protection Act after the ECRI Vice President pulled the bill from the unanimous consent of ECRI Policy Committee endorsed bills so that the Old Growth Forest Bill would be voted on separately. That ECRI Vice President later testified against the Old Growth Forest Protection Act and testified in support of that year’s Forest Parity Act, the bill to increase logging in Rhode Island.

DEM and RIFCO opposed the Old Growth Forest Protection Act again as well.

• June 2024 – Old Growth Forest Protection Act fails to pass while the Forest Parity Act passes the House, but not the Senate. The Exeter Fire is now used by timber industry advocates as one of the main justifications for the Forest Parity Act despite the bill originally being introduced before the wildfire even occurred.
• August 2024 – Old Growth Tree Society, including its arborists, scientists, and environmental advocates, is expelled from the Environmental Council of Rhode Island by the ECRI Executive Committee. The expulsion occurred after the OGTS President wrote a letter to the editor for ecoRI News revealing how ECRI refused to support the Old Growth Forest Protection Act, and after OGTS informed the ECRI leadership in July that they planned on introducing a resolution for ECRI to vote on to oppose forest clearcutting on public land.

This is the first time in ECRI’s history that an environmental group has been expelled from the organization.

It should be noted this vote took place in a secret meeting of the Executive Committee which has members of the RI Woodland Partnership on it. Most of the membership of ECRI were not notified before, or after, the vote took place, including ECRI members who supported the Old Growth Forest Protection Act and OGTS’s efforts.

OLD GROWTH TREE SOCIETY OF RHODE ISLAND PUSHES FORWARD TO PROTECT ISLAND’S OLD GROWTH, NATURAL FORESTS, AND BIODIVERSITY

Despite setbacks and powerful opposition, Rhode Island’s forest defenders continue their fight in 2025. The Old Growth Forest Protection Act returns for another attempt, facing opponents with deep industry connections. Even the national American Logger’s Council has joined the battle, showing how this small state’s forest struggle has captured attention far beyond its borders. Meanwhile, established environmental groups remain conspicuously silent.

• 2025 – The Old Growth Forest Protection Act, H 5294, is reintroduced. The Forest Parity Act, H 5098, is reintroduced, as well as introduced for the first time in the Senate as S 0679. The 2025 Forest Parity Act is supported by the RI Wood Operators Organization, RIFCO, the same ECRI Vice President, and another member of the Executive Committee for ECRI.

According to the President of the RI Wood Operators Organization (RI Timber Industry) in his February testimony, their organization consists of board members of the RI Forest Conservation Commission, the RI Woodland Partnership, the RI Forest Conservator’s Organization, the RI Farm Bureau, and the American Logger’s Council.

Notably, the Executive Director of the American Logger’s Council, on behalf of that organization, submitted testimony supporting the Forest Parity Act this year.

When the Old Growth Forest Protection Act H 5294 received a Hearing in the legislature, the RI Audubon Society refused to support the bill because the definition for Old Growth Forests in the bill did not match the timber industry’s (weak) definition.

CONCLUSION

As you can see, in the past 30 years there has been a purposeful decline in the state’s efforts to protect biodiversity and forests in their natural state.

There has been an insidious push by the timber industry and by groups that label themselves as pro-environment to expand the timber industry, with the result of logging our state’s remaining Old Growth and natural forests, destroying rare and endangered species, as well as increasing the chance of more and larger wildfires, all subsidized by Rhode Island taxpayers.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE RHODE ISLAND’S FORESTS

Please send emails to your state legislators in support of the Old Growth Forest Protection Act H 5294, which would create the first state laws in Rhode Island’s history to protect public forests by prohibiting logging in Old Growth Forests on state-owned and municipal-owned land, banning clearcutting on state-owned land, requiring environmental review before state logging operations, creating a functional Natural Areas Preserve system to protect the state’s Natural Heritage Areas, and bringing back the RI Natural Heritage Program.

Also, please testify against S 0679, and send emails to your state legislators asking that they do not support the Forest Parity Act H 5098/ S 0679, which would threaten the state’s forests and is dangerously close to being passed into law.

For more information, please visit our website at saveriforests.org

Nathan Cornell

President of the Rhode Island Old Growth Tree Society