Take Action: Protect the Roadless Rule

Photo: Dark Divide Roadless Area, Erik Gauger

Today, the US Forest Service opened a public comment period regarding the proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule—a critical safeguard that has protected over 58 million acres of national forest from logging and road-building for over 25 years.

TAKE ACTION HERE

Today, the federal government has launched another attack on our public lands by beginning the process of rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule. This rule has helped to safeguard some of America’s last remaining wild and intact forests. These protected areas offer abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation and provide essential wildlife habitat.

The proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule jeopardizes nearly 58 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland managed by the U.S. Forest Service, comprising around a third of the territory in our national forest system. These forests have only remained intact because of the Forest Service’s nearly 25-year-old commitment to not build roads in these areas for harmful activities like major logging operations or oil-and-gas drilling.

The Roadless Rule protects 2 million acres of wild forests here in Washington State meaning that many of our beloved public lands are under threat. Places like the popular climbing routes of Liberty Bell and the remote backcountry trails of the Dark Divide.

The comment period closes on September 19th, so don’t delay and speak for the trees today!