Northern Goshawk. Photo: Fish and Wildlife.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Wildlands Defense, Native Ecosystems Council, and Council for Wildlife and Fish sued the U.S. Forest Service in federal district court in Utah for approving logging and burning throughout the Dixie National Forest’s Pine Valley Ranger District in southeast Utah. Kevin Wright, Supervisor for the Dixie National Forest, authorized the project’s implementation by signing a Decision Notice in May 2025.

The Project will log, masticate, roller mulch, and burn 127,667 acres, which is a substantial portion of the 209,731 acres of the Pine Valley Ranger District.

It’s scientifically proven that logging and burning may actually increase the severity of wildfires by opening up the forest floor to more solar radiation and wind. But we are challenging the Forest Service in court because it’s violating the Dixie National Forest Plan, which has specific requirements for northern goshawk, big game winter range, and old growth habitat.

Plan would destroy old growth forests that are critical to Northern Goshawk and Pinyon Jay habitat

The Dixie Forest Plan requires the agency to maintain at least the minimum level of goshawk habitat needed........

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