ROADLESS RULE DEFENSE
Key Facts & Resources
Essential Facts
What's at Stake
The proposed rollback of the 2001 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 not to build roads in these areas for harmful activities like major logging operations or oil-and-gas drilling.
Recreation Spots at Risk
Since 2001, protected roadless areas have offered abundant outdoor recreation opportunities such as hunting, fishing, camping or other activities. Every year, millions of people take advantage of the free (or extremely affordable) access to these public lands. According to maps from Outdoor Alliance's GIS Lab, roadless areas protect 11,337 climbing routes and boulder problems, more than 1,000 whitewater paddling runs, 43,826 miles of trail, and 20,298 mountain biking trails. Large sections of the Continental Divide, Pacific Crest, and Appalachian National Trails traverse protected roadless areas.
More Roads Means More Wildfires
Although proponents of rolling back the Roadless Rule have suggested that this is somehow being done in response to wildfire, the reality is that this "solution" will only lead to more wildfires. New research from The Wilderness Society, now in peer review, shows that from 1992-2024, wildfires were four times as likely to start in areas with roads than in roadless forest tracts. Another study showed that more than 90 percent of wildfires occurred within half a mile of a road.
Vital Habitat for Imperiled Species
The lands in question include lower-elevation forests, wetlands, canyons and other undeveloped lands that are critical to our nation's ecological health. Because they are not fragmented by roads, these Roadless Areas provide habitat for many imperiled species such as California condors, grizzly bears and wolves in the Yellowstone area, native salmon and trout in the Pacific Northwest, migratory songbirds in the Appalachian hardwoods and more. They also sustain wild salmon, especially in Alaska where they are the lifeblood for both the fishing industry and traditional subsistence practices of Indigenous communities.
Rollback Paves the Way for Logging
The real reason a rollback of the Roadless Rule is being proposed is to re-open these forests to logging and other industrial development. This proposal follows on the heels of other administrative actions that have called for a dramatic increase in logging and oil and gas drilling on federal lands. An increase in these industrial activities would worsen climate change, destroy recreation areas, put the lands at greater risk of wildfire, destroy wildlife habitat, and threaten drinking water sources.
Vital for America's Drinking Water
The US National Forests are the headwaters of our great rivers and the largest source of municipal water supply in the nation, serving over 60 million people in 3,400 communities in 33 states. Roads are a major cause of water pollution. Because it protects these headwaters, the 2001 Roadless Rule is vital for maintaining clean drinking water for communities across the country. Major U.S. cities including Los Angeles, Portland, Denver, and Atlanta receive a significant portion of their water supply from national forests.
Taxpayers on the Hook
Building more roads in national forests would be a drain on taxpayers. Even with the Roadless Rule in place, the Forest Service already has a 380,000-mile road system – twice as long as the nation's highway system – crisscrossing national forests. This forest road infrastructure is already so big that the Forest Service can't afford to properly maintain it, triggering a maintenance backlog that has ballooned to billions in needed repairs.
Millions Support the Roadless Rule
The Roadless Rule is a highly popular policy that is often celebrated as one of America's most successful conservation measures. Prior to its enactment, more than 600 public hearings were held nationwide, and 1.6 million Americans weighed in to call for protection of these forestlands. More recently, more than 45 members of the House and Senate have signed onto legislation that would codify the Roadless Rule so that in the future, it could not be rolled back without an act of Congress.
Key Statistics
Letter to the Editor Templates
Long Version (Under 200 words)
As the United States' tens of millions of hunters, anglers, campers and other outdoors enthusiasts know, there's nothing like getting away from it all in a pristine, remote location. Some of the best places to unplug and recharge our internal batteries include the 58 million acres of undeveloped backcountry protected by the 2001 Roadless Rule. But the Agriculture Department, which oversees these beloved U.S. Forest Service lands, now intends to rescind this crucial rule.
Eliminating the Roadless Rule would not only destroy recreation areas -- it would also threaten drinking water sources, imperil wildlife and cost taxpayers money. Also, contrary to the Agriculture Department's rationale, rescinding the rule would increase the risk of wildfires. New research from The Wilderness Society, now in peer review, shows that from 1992-2024, wildfires were four times as likely to start in areas with roads than in roadless forest tracts.
Dozens of U.S. representatives and senators have signed onto the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025. This bill would codify the Roadless Rule so that in the future, only an act of Congress could roll it back. Tell your elected officials to support this legislation to keep America's great outdoors great.
Short Version (Under 150 words)
As the United States' tens of millions of hunters, anglers, campers and other outdoors enthusiasts know, there's nothing like getting away from it all in a pristine, remote location. Some of the best places to unplug and recharge our internal batteries include the 58 million acres of U.S. Forest Service lands protected by the 2001 Roadless Rule. Now, the Agriculture Department intends to rescind this crucial rule.
Eliminating the Roadless Rule would destroy recreation areas, threaten drinking water sources, imperil wildlife and cost taxpayers money. Also, contrary to the Agriculture Department's rationale, research shows that rescinding the rule would increase the risk of wildfires.
Dozens of U.S. representatives and senators have signed onto The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2025 to ensure that only an act of Congress can eliminate the rule. Tell your elected officials to support this legislation to keep America's great outdoors great.
Background Information
In 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule was adopted with massive public support to protect 58.5 million acres of roadless national forest land in 39 states. The Roadless Rule was the result of years of work and public input. The public comment period set a record with 1.6 million public comments submitted. The rule protects 58.5 million acres of national forests over 39 states from new road construction, and prohibits the logging of roadless areas in the National Forest System.
Colorado and Idaho later won their own, state-specific versions of the Roadless Rule. In 2020, the Trump administration attempted to exempt the Tongass National Forest in Alaska from the Roadless Rule. The Biden administration re-applied the Rule's protections to the Tongass.