Federal Job Cuts Could Impact Our Conservation Mission

At Conserving Carolina, we are concerned that job cuts at already understaffed federal agencies will negatively impact public lands and land conservation here in Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. If not reversed, these job cuts will make it harder for us to conserve the natural areas that are the heart of our communities.

Conserving Carolina works closely with partners such as the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which have both seen drastic job cuts in the last two weeks. From experience, we know how dedicated these forest rangers, firefighters, wildlife biologists, and other professionals are in their work to carefully manage this region’s exceptional public lands and natural heritage. We also know that our conservation partners were already working resourcefully to make the most of limited staff capacity. The load on these agencies only increased with the heavy impacts from Hurricane Helene. 

If staff cuts at these agencies are not reversed, it will be harder for us to fulfill our conservation mission. For example: 

• Will we be able to protect vanishingly rare mountain bogs and add them to the Mountain Bogs National Wildlife Refuge if the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn’t have the capacity to manage those lands? 
• Can we successfully improve habitat for fish and wildlife at our restoration projects along the French Broad River if biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are not able to share their expertise? 
• Will the U.S. Forest Service be able to manage wildfire risk through controlled burns, after Helene downed so many trees, leaving high loads of fuel?   
• Can we continue to protect land and add it to Pisgah National Forest if the U.S. Forest Service is stripped of capacity? 
• Will the Blue Ridge Parkway be delayed in reopening, if the National Park Service is deprived of staff? Will other public lands that are vital to our outdoor recreation economy be closed to the public or understaffed in ways that diminish visitors’ experience? 

We know that people treasure our public lands and natural areas, regardless of politics. We hope that you will join us in standing up for the federal agencies and programs that that play such a vital role in conservation.