I have lived in Oregon for over 70 years. Most of that time has been spent in Roseburg, a small timber town near the Umpqua National Forest. Roseburg once billed itself as the timber capital of the world. Perhaps it still does. Roseburg Forest Products, a giant logging industry has moved its headquarters elsewhere, and has now spread its operation to other, mostly southern states. Although not as dominant as it once was, the timber industry still has much influence over the business and politics of this area. It is not surprising then that these groups might overwhelmingly support the Trump administration’s plan to rescind the Roadless Rule of 2001. The administration plans to build more roads. This is a time when the Forest Service cannot maintain the existing roads due to erosion and landslides and possibly lack of funding. When driving to a trailhead or simply driving the forest roads for pleasure it is wise, especially in the rainy season to call ahead for road closures.
The administration said the roads are necessary to control wildfires. This concern is strange. They have already substantially reduced Forest Service personnel. Due to climate change the weather is far different than it once was. Due to dry, hot winds and lack of rain and snow, fires that once left a patchwork of burned and green forest now leave complete devastation. Most scientists agree these changes are due to greenhouse gases being introduced into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide being one of the main culprits. Each year the fires are more devastating than the year before and that trend is predicted to continue. Live standing trees store vast amounts of carbon. At a time when so many of these trees are being destroyed by devastating wildfires the administration proposes to cut even more of the trees in the roadless areas.
The administration maintains that unroaded areas are more prone to wildfires than roaded areas. This may be so but I have my doubts. Some of my concerns with hazards are as follows: building of the roads, logging (which is sure to follow the road building), sparks from vehicles, careless tossing of cigarette butts, large campfires.
I believe the administration’s plan to rescind the Roadless Rule is not only untimely but ill advised. The president’s plan to build roads in roadless areas is a fraud and should be condemned by the American people. The proposal is not to protect forest from wildfire but simply to cut more timber. I could not object more to that plan.