On May 8-9, 2024, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service hosted a public workshop to present information and gather feedback on a range of topics regarding the science and management of pinyon and juniper woodlands, particularly mature and old-growth forests. The workshop was held in Reno, Nevada, and was part of BLM’s ongoing public comment period on pinyon and juniper woodlands, during which interested parties may also submit comments regarding management and conservation of pinyon and juniper ecosystems. 

Topics for the workshop included classifying the various pinyon and juniper systems and understanding their geographic and population dynamics, methods for assessing woodland conditions, values associated with old-growth pinyon and juniper woodlands, management objectives and effectiveness, and opportunities for increasing climate resilience. You can view the full agenda and information about speakers in the right sidebar of this page.

Public comment period

BLM accepted comments about the management and conservation of pinyon and juniper ecosystems through May 31, 2024. BLM specifically requested information regarding: 

• Classifying different types of pinyon-juniper ecosystems and identifying appropriate management actions. 

• Assessing the condition of pinyon and juniper woodlands. 

• Values associated with old-growth pinyon and juniper woodlands. 

• Identifying threats to pinyon-juniper ecosystems and management methods to increase their resiliency. 

• Planning for a diversity of ecosystems and conditions. 

• Data and information gaps. 

• Incorporating Indigenous knowledge to improve our understanding and management of pinyon and juniper woodlands. 

BLM is currently reviewing the comments received through the workshop and comment period.

Background Information

On April 22, 2022, the President signed Executive Order 14072, Strengthening the Nation's Forests, Communities, and Local Economies,  which sets forth the Biden administration’s policy to conserve America’s mature and old-growth forests on federal lands and directs BLM and U.S. Forest Service to define and inventory those forests, analyze threats to them, and develop policies to institutionalize climate-smart management and conservation strategies, with robust opportunity for public comment. BLM and U.S. Forest Service completed the initial inventory of mature and old-growth forests in April 2023. The initial inventory identified 24 million acres of mature and old-growth pinyon and juniper woodlands on federal lands, making the pinyon-juniper group the most abundant old-growth forest type on Forest Service and BLM lands. of mature and old-growth forests in April 2023. The initial inventory identified 24 million acres of mature and old-growth pinyon and juniper woodlands on federal lands, making the pinyon-juniper group the most abundant old-growth forest type on Forest Service and BLM lands.