Amid Donald Trump's trade war with Canada, the president signed two executive orders Saturday that call for theexpansion of timber production even for projects that might harm endangered species,and a review of how importing lumber might harm "national security."

The production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products is critical to our nation's well-being," Trump wrote in the executive order to expand its production.

"Timber production is essential for crucial human activities like construction and energy production. Furthermore, as recent disasters demonstrate, forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects can save American lives and communities."

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, in 2017, the United States imported about 16.1 billion board feet of lumber from all countries, with Canada supplying nearly 91% of these imports -- or around 14.65 billion board feet of lumber. More recent data indicates that Canada remains the largest supplier of lumber to the U.S.

The U.S. maintains vast forest resources and a strong logging industry, raising questions about whether lumber imports truly pose a national security risk.

“This executive order sets in motion a chainsaw free-for-all on our federal forests," Blaine Miller-McFeeley, a representative for the group Earthjustice, said in a statement.

"Americans treasure our forests for all the benefits they provide, such as recreation, clean air, and clean drinking water. But this order ignores these values and opens the door for wild lands to be plundered, for nothing more than corporate gain. In the long run, this will worsen the effects of climate change, while also destroying critical wildlife habitat."

Unlike energy dependence or reliance on critical minerals, `timber is a renewable and widely available resource within North America. Treating imports as a security threat could pave the way for trade restrictions that function more as protectionist measures than responses to genuine vulnerabilities.

First Drill baby drill and now it’s chop baby chop. Here is why I have an issue with the environmentalists. It’s clear that USA needs timber products instead of trying to mitigate damage and get the resources we need within our own borders we have to import it from Canada where I’m sure is not good for their forests. Makes no sense