- Trump administration moved to strip protections from 44 million acres of national forest.
- On Tuesday, the administration filed a proposal to repeal the 'roadless rule', a 2001 regulation protecting nearly 45 million acres of national forests.
- 44 million acres of the 193-million-acre National Forest System are subject to these protections.
- The U.S. Forest Service has proposed to rescind the 2001 rule, which prohibits road construction and logging in pristine parts of national forests that don’t currently have roads.
- According to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, the change is intended to reduce the regulatory burden and return decisions about forest management to a more local level.
- The majority of the forests that would be affected fall in 10 Western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, while Colorado and Idaho have their own state-level roadless protections.
- Opponents of the repeal say ending the rule could irreversibly damage some of America’s most pristine forests and cause a long list of environmental harms.
- Environmental advocates criticized the move, arguing that it would allow for harm to the forests.
- Kristin Gendzier, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, stated that the proposal will clear the way for reckless projects that can permanently scar these spectacular roadless landscapes.
The Trump administration's proposal to rescind the 2001 roadless rule threatens protections for 44 million acres of national forests, primarily in ten Western states. The rule, which prohibits road construction and logging in pristine forest areas, is seen as a barrier to local forest management.134
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stated, “For too long, outdated restrictions have kept tens of millions of forested acres off-limits to the very treatments that improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk to our communities.” The administration argues that the repeal will allow local managers to better address forest health and wildfire risks.
However, environmental advocates warn that this move could lead to irreversible damage. Kristin Gendzier“The Forest Service’s misguided proposal will clear the way for reckless projects that can permanently scar these spectacular roadless landscapes.” The rule's repeal could significantly impact tourism, recreation, and clean drinking water for communities dependent on these forests.89
The U.S. Forest Service has indicated that the change is part of a broader effort to reduce the “regulatory burden” and return authority to local forest managers, but critics fear the environmental consequences could be severe.5
“The U.S. Forest Service argues that the repeal will reduce regulatory burdens and improve forest health, with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins stating, 'It’s time to turn the page on the failed roadless rule.' However, environmental advocates like Kristin Gendzier warn that this could lead to irreversible damage to pristine landscapes and harm communities reliant on these forests.”
WSJ
