Federal judge favors large tree protections for Eastern Oregon

A federal magistrate judge recommended on Thursday that the U.S. Forest Service stop cutting larger, mature-growth trees East of the Cascades.

The recommendations are a potential victory for six conservation groups that filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service last year, a response to a change made in the final days of the Trump Administration to allow the removal of trees larger than 21 inches in diameter.

A U.S. District Court judge will get final approval, and the Forest Service could potentially appeal the decision.