USDA announces plan to rescind Roadless Rule, opening 59 million forest acres to development.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announces the USDA’s intention to rescind the Roadless Rule, which provides de facto protections against development in federally managed wilderness areas with no roads. (Photo: USDA)

Secretary Rollins Rescinds Roadless Rule, Eliminating Impediment to Responsible Forest Management

Secretary Rollins Rescinds Roadless Rule, Eliminating Impediment to Responsible Forest Management | Home

This action aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order 14192, Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation to get rid of overcomplicated, burdensome barriers that hamper American business and innovation. It will also allow more decisions to be made at the local level, helping land managers make the best decisions to protect people, communities and resources based on their unique local conditions.

Of the 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas covered under the 2001 Roadless Rule, 28 million acres are in areas at high or very high risk of wildfire. Rescinding this rule will allow this land to be managed at the local forest level, with more flexibility to take swift action to reduce wildfire risk and help protect surrounding communities and infrastructure.

What she didn't say nor is there any documentation on systematically protecting wildlife or managing growth.

Mother Earth belongs to none of us; we belong to her. It is our responsibility to take care and nurture the planet we live on. Yes, fire prevention is important but so is proper management of our forest and wildlife and their habitats. Road access and forest harvesting are necessary but require coconscious and ethical practices.

30% of National Forest System lands are impacted by this rule. Including nearly 60% of forest service land in Utah which currently restrict from road development and is alleged to be improperly managed and pose fire risk. In Montana, there 58%, and in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, the largest in the country, 92% could be impacted. USDA alleges a problem with jobs and economic development across rural America because of this law. Stating Utah alone estimates the roadless rule creates a 25% decrease in economic development in the forestry sector.

However, when has forestry limitations or accessibility to these areas ever been mentioned in the recent past? The answer is very little. Only after California and Hawaii having devastating fires has fire management issues been cited. In California it was state regulations that had the most impact on forest management and in Hawaii experts have blamed the increase on the spread of nonnative vegetation and hotter, drier weather due to changing weather patterns.

Is the USDA on the right path? Does the USDA have appropriate systems in place to ensure Mother Earth isn't raped and abused?