Photo credit: U.S. Forest Service

Completing a 4,500-mile journey from a national forest in Wyoming to the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit tonight.

Some holiday cheer may at last come to Congress, heralded in by the lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree this evening.

Each year since 1969, the U.S. Forest Service has combed some 155 national forests across the country in search of just the right tree to festoon the lawn of our nation’s Capitol.

This year’s 67-foot-tall tannenbaum hails from the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, which, in addition to blue-ribbon Christmas trees, is home to moose, elk, bison, eagles and hundreds of other species of wondrous wildlife.

The forest also protects “thousands of miles of unspoiled rivers and streams” and offers thousands of miles of trails and roads — providing countless opportunities for outdoor recreation, according to the Forest Service’s website.

Want A Tree Of Your Own?

National forests are public lands that belong to all Americans. We use them for everything from habitat conservation for wildlife, to hiking, biking, mining, logging, and yes, Christmas tree harvesting.

Contact your local ranger station for information on how to harvest a tree of your own and where to obtain permits.

What Defenders Is Doing

Defenders blogger Caitlin Leutwiler shows some holiday cheer at our national headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Defenders decorates a modest tree each December, but all year long we’ve been working to secure protections for wildlife on our nation’s forests and grasslands.

In the new year, the Obama administration will create sweeping new policies that govern how our national forests will be managed for decades to come.

We’re urging President Obama to …

  • Protect Fish and Wildlife – by using sound science to safeguard our natural heritage and conserve healthy fish and wildlife populations and habitats.
  • Preserve Water and Watersheds – by protecting and restoring streams, rivers and watersheds, guarantying safe, clean water for people and wildlife alike.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be asking for your help, too. So in the meantime, learn more about Defenders’ work on national forest management.

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