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Nearly 45 MILLION acres of America’s wildest national forests could lose A MAJOR FEDERAL PROTECTION—comments due Sept. 21

  • Writer: Timothy S. Colman
    Timothy S. Colman
  • 14 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

 

     

 

 


 


 TAKE ACTION—IT TAKES FEWER THAN FIVE MINUTES.

The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to repeal the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule in its entirety. The rule protects more than 44 million acres from most new road construction and associated commercial logging.

The Forest Service’s own proposal identifies:

  • 18.2 million acres where forest plans allow permanent roads but the Roadless Rule currently prohibits them

  • 11.3 million acres where temporary roads would be more likely

  • 4.8 million acres where repeal would expand opportunities for timber management

Once a road cuts into an intact forest, the damage spreads: wildlife habitat becomes fragmented, sediment enters streams, invasive species gain access and remote backcountry becomes increasingly difficult to restore.

These forests protect drinking water, wildlife, recreation economies and places where Americans can still experience genuine wildness. These are public lands where Americans hunt, fish, hike, camp, mountain bike, watch wildlife and experience genuine backcountry.

Public comments must be received by midnight September 21.

This is not merely a petition. Comments go directly into the official federal rulemaking record and must be considered before a final decision is made.

Submit an official comment here:

You can adapt this:

I oppose rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Please select the No Action alternative and retain the rule. Roadless national forests protect clean water, wildlife habitat, intact ecosystems, recreation and local economies. The existing rule already allows necessary public-safety, wildfire and restoration work. Removing it could increase road construction, habitat fragmentation, erosion and long-term maintenance costs. Please retain the Roadless Rule.

Add one personal sentence about a forest, trail, river or community you value. It takes only a few minutes, and personal comments matter.

Wild public land is far easier to protect than to put back together.

Docket: FS-2025-0001 / RIN 0596-AD66

 
 
 

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