federal government makes plans to revoke Roadless Rule, sparking renewed debate over control of natural resources on public grounds.
In a controversial move, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the formal repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a decision that could have significant implications for the nation's wildlife populations.
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, enacted in 2001, protected millions of acres of undeveloped forest land from road building and industrial logging for 25 years. This rule safeguarded roadless area characteristics including intact groves of old-growth forests and habitat for threatened, endangered, and sensitive species.
The Forest Service manages 370,000 miles of roads within national forests. When road densities exceed two miles per square mile, they are detrimental to fish and wildlife populations. Studies show that populations of large mammals and coldwater fish have been shown to decline with road densities higher than one mile per square mile.
Roadless lands in the Pacific Northwest provide a safe haven for rare animals like the coastal marten, Pacific fisher, and the Sierra Nevada red fox. The Tongass National Forest, the North Cascades, and numerous other native wildlife species depend on roadless landscapes protected by the rule. Repealing the Roadless Rule could result in the bulldozing over of American treasures like the Tongass for commercial logging and roadbuilding.
The repeal could open up major swaths of natural habitat to large-scale logging under the guise of reducing fire risk and a falsified timber emergency. Rare and ancient trees in Alaska could be shipped off at a loss to taxpayers if the rule is repealed.
The Forest Service reported a $6-billion backlog in road maintenance for passenger vehicle roads in 2024. Repealing the rule would not address this issue, but instead could exacerbate it by increasing the number of roads in need of maintenance.
Defenders of Wildlife, a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for future generations, with a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and supporters, is dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. Jacqueline Covey is the media contact for the article.
The article's source can be found at our website.org/newsroom. The article can also be followed on X @Defenders.
Unfortunately, there is no information in the provided search results about which organization opposed the repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rules by the US Department of Agriculture or their reasons.
This decision by the US Department of Agriculture raises concerns about the future of America's wildlife and natural habitats. It is crucial for organisations and individuals to stay informed and advocate for the protection of these vital ecosystems.
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