The United States Forest Service has launched a program to allow Americans to purchase a natural Christmas tree for as little as $5 as long as it is cut…in a protected forest.
Although it might seem contradictory, the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that fir cutting would benefit some forests, reports ABC News.
As the forest regenerates, the new trees compete for resources like sunlight and water, making them smaller, according to a spokesperson for the American Christmas Tree Association. , Jill Sidebottom.
The latter adds that cutting a few would allow the remaining trees to improve their resilience and their effectiveness in repelling diseases and insects.
Since the start of this program in 2020, some 306,000 Americans have obtained permits annually to be able to cut their tree in one of the protected forests identified by the ministry.
