The Trump administration announced the rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, commonly referred to as the “roadless rule,” which has protected approximately 59 million acres of national forest land from road building and logging. At the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled a welcome shift in that policy. This reversal will be felt on almost a third of all national forest lands across the U.S.
The roadless rule helps ensure that our national forests remain protected and untouched. It bans timber harvest and building new roads in places with no pre-existing roads. One major consequence of this policy is the premature destruction of important ecosystems, such as the largest old-growth forest in the nation, which is found in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. In this important regional context, a news release states that 92% of the region’s land will be affected by the new ruling. Likewise, Montana’s forests will have 58% of their roadless protection forcibly removed.
Supporters of the decision argue that it facilitates more effective management of the nation’s forests. Supporters of the measure claim that it would reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Brooke Rollins trumpeted President Trump’s leadership in removing nonsensical barriers to common sense stewardship of our natural resources. He is repealing the unnecessary and burdensome roadless rule. This important step launches our nation’s forests into a new era of consistency and sustainability.
Republican lawmakers from western states have rushed to praise it. Nick Begich, a member of Alaska’s congressional delegation, emphasized the need for responsible forest management, stating, “Alaska’s forests are one of our state’s greatest natural assets and the ‘Roadless Rule’ has long stifled responsible forest management, blocked access to critical resources, and halted economic opportunity.”
Environmental groups immediately decried the movement, calling it a dangerous affront to public lands and ecosystems. Alex Craven voiced concerns over the decision’s potential consequences, stating, “Stripping our national forests of roadless rule protections will put close to 60 million acres of wildlands across the country on the chopping block.”
Environmentalists are sounding the alarm that the logging could ultimately contaminate our air and drinking water supplies. They think it might make the country more prone to wildfires. Ben Goldfarb noted on social media that “the vast majority of fires occur near roads,” suggesting that the new policy may worsen fire management challenges.
This decision affects more than logging. It raises important questions about how we manage our public lands, and the future of America’s national forests. Thousands then rallied outside the event to speak out against new legislative initiatives to sell off millions of acres of public land.