The "Old Growth Forest Protection Act" is a proposed bill in Rhode Island that aims to protect old growth forests by prohibiting extractive logging and clearcutting on state-owned land, municipal lands, and natural area preserves. The bill defines key terms related to forest management, including "old growth forest," "extractive logging," and "clearcutting," and establishes strict regulations against logging activities in these protected areas. Exceptions are allowed only for the felling of hazard trees and invasive species, subject to prior approval from the natural heritage program.

The legislation mandates that all state and municipal forests over one acre must undergo an ecological inventory conducted by the natural heritage program before any scheduled extractive logging or prescribed burning operations. Public hearings are required before any logging or burning can occur, and a notice must be published to inform the public of the proposed actions.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Natural Heritage Program within the Division of Statewide Planning, which will be responsible for protecting native biodiversity, old growth forests, rare forest ecosystems, and rare and endangered species. The program will be led by a coordinator with an advanced degree in relevant fields and experience in managing natural forest ecosystems, who must not have prior ties to the timber industry.

The bill also amends the Natural Areas Protection Act of 1993, redefining the roles of the coordinator and establishing procedures for designating lands as natural area preserves, which require public hearings and consent from the State Planning Council. The act emphasizes the importance of preserving old growth forests for biodiversity and ecological health and will take effect upon passage.