“As a person who appreciates the many values national forests bring to my state, my wellbeing, our wildlife and…”

As a person who appreciates the many values national forests bring to my state, my wellbeing, our wildlife and more, I support Alternative 1: The “No action alternative” because we should keep the Roadless Rule intact. I adore hiking and backpacking into our national forests, especially El Dorado National Forest, which is just a few hours away from my home in the SF Bay Area. The roadless rule means that with just a few hours of hiking I can be far from the sounds of cars and recreational vehicles, alone in nature, and I soon begin to feel my entire nervous system unclench as the quiet of nature rejuvenates me. Adding more roads to our national forests threatens the exact things that make the refuges and sanctuaries for both people and wildlife. Please protect this critical rule. Roadless areas keep our forests healthy. They serve as the ecological backbone of our national forest lands and: - Supply 50% of California’s drinking water - Support Tribal cultural practices - Enhance outdoor recreation including backcountry hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, angling, and hunting - Shelter over 200 imperiled species like the Pacific fisher and Sierra Nevada red fox - Protect the military mission in part by serving as a crucial buffer against urbanization. And, more roads mean more wildfire risk. Most wildfires are caused by humans and most human-caused fires occur near roads. We don’t need more. Please move forward with the No Action Alternative 1: Keep the Roadless Rule intact. Sincerely, Harmony Obeso