Commentary: Roadless Rule Repeal Threatens Virginia's Natural Beauty

Commentary: Roadless Rule repeal threatens Virginia's natural beauty

The U.S. Forest Service has announced its intention to rescind the 2001 “Roadless Rule,” which protects roughly 58 million acres of wild areas in national forests, including 394,000 acres in Virginia. The forests provide thousands of miles of hiking trails,…

Proposal to Undo Roadless Rule Would Open Some of Southern California’s Last Wild Forests to Development - Inside Climate News

The Trump administration claims opening protected areas like Cleveland National Forest to road building will aid the timber industry and reduce wildfires. Opponents see a giveaway that will lead to more burning and degradation of pristine lands.

Instead of adding more forest roads, let’s take care of the roads and trails we already have

A dirt road leads into the Black Hills National Forest. (Seth Tupper/South Dakota Searchlight)The Roadless Rule that the Trump administration wants to eliminate has not been controversial for 24 years, because it is grounded in common sense. Stirring up needless fights over public lands is more about smoke and mirrors than wise management. The Forest Service manages about 194 million acres. About 58 million acres of national forest are relativel…

Public Support For Roadless Rule Is Nearly Unanimous

NORTH FORK, CA (Milwaukee Sentinel Journal) – A review found 99% of public comments opposed rescinding a U.S. Department of Agriculture proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule on U.S. Forest Service lands. In the political realm, candidates sometimes refer to an election victory with 55% of the vote as a “landslide.” What would you call … The post Public Support For Roadless Rule Is Nearly Unanimous first appeared on Sierra News Online.

Why roadless areas matter for Wilderness preservation - Wilderness Watch

By Suzanne Cable We should all be deeply concerned about the most recent challenge to the integrity of America’s national forests—the proposed repeal of the 2001 U.S. Forest Service Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This could open up nearly 45 million acres of our public lands to road-building, logging, mining, and development.Roadless wildlands protected under this rule provide abundant benefits to nature and to people. In their current status,…