Federal government considers rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule | Op-ed

Roseburg, Ore., — As the federal government considers rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, it’s important that the public understand what’s at stake. Roadless areas on our national forests are not just empty spaces on a map—they are vital sanctuaries for biodiversity, clean water, carbon storage and human renewal. In a time of increasing climate disruption and ecological decline, these undeveloped, unfragmented landscapes are more valuable than ever.

The 2001 Roadless Rule was designed to protect roughly 58.5 million acres of national forest
lands from most new road construction and large-scale timber harvesting. These Inventoried
Roadless Areas may contain some roads, but they remain largely intact ecosystems—among the
last places where nature still functions as it should.

Roadless areas provide habitat for over 220 wildlife species listed as threatened, endangered,
or proposed under the Endangered Species Act. They also support over 1,400 sensitive plant
and animal species recognized by the U.S. Forest Service.

In Oregon—and especially in the Umpqua region—these landscapes are home to ancient
forests, imperiled species, pristine headwaters and indigenous cultural sites. They offer buffers
against wildfire, drought, and erosion, and they help regulate the climate by storing large
amounts of carbon in forests and soils.

More than 60 million Americans rely on drinking water that originates in national forests, much
of it protected by roadless status. And despite concerns from some corners of industry, the
Roadless Rule reduced national timber harvests by less than 0.5%.

Some people believe that roadless areas are closed to all use, but that’s not the case. Roadless
areas are not designated wilderness. They allow hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, paddling,
horse riding, mountain biking, and even some motorized use, depending on local Forest Service
management plans.

Active management is permitted. Fuel reduction, forest restoration, and thinning of smaller
trees are allowed for wildfire risk and ecosystem health. Mechanical treatments like limbing
and piling may be used, and existing mineral leases and livestock grazing may continue where
permitted. Records regarding fires ignited in roaded vs roadless areas ‘indicate wildfire ignition
density is lowest in wilderness followed closely by Inventoried Roadless Areas’

Protecting roadless areas is a wise public investment. They act as green infrastructure—quietly
storing carbon, filtering water, reducing flood risk, and providing refuge for species under
pressure from climate and development. And they do it with minimal cost to the taxpayer.

One-third of all roadless areas directly border a national park or designated wilderness area,
serving as a critical buffer zone and corridor for wildlife such as deer, elk, bear, Pacific fisher,
and native salmon.

And contrary to the claim that these lands are “locked up,” roadless areas offer a unique
combination of access and restraint. They give us the freedom to experience wild places
without opening the door to industrial development.

These are the last large swaths of intact wildlands in our national forest system. Roads are
among the most ecologically damaging features we build—they fragment habitats, pollute
waterways, invite invasive species, and increase wildfire risk.

We must not go backward. The Roadless Rule represents a decades-long, bipartisan
commitment to stewardship and restraint. Once we open these places to road-building and
logging, we can’t undo the damage.

Roadless areas are not “unused” land. They are nature’s infrastructure—performing essential
services every day. Protecting them is one of the smartest, cheapest, and most meaningful
ways we can safeguard the future for our children and grandchildren.

Submitted by: Diana Pace, Umpqua Watersheds

References
1 U.S. Forest Service. Roadless Area Conservation Rule. https://www.fs.usda.gov/roadless
2 Forman, R.T.T. & Alexander, L.E. (1998). The Ecological Effects of Roads. Annual Review of
Ecology and Systematics. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.29.1.207
3 Oregon Wild. Roadless Areas in Oregon. https://oregonwild.org/wilderness/roadless-areas
4 https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/roadless/
5 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989421004935
6 https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/study-shows-roadless-forests-are-key-protecting-
national-parks-drinking-water-more