FS-2025-0001-569700

Dear Special Areas: Roadless Area Conservation, se01nsnn se01nsnn , I have traveled to 49 of our 50 states and I have seen the spectacular wonders of our great nations NATURAL LANDS. Had these magnificent parks and monuments not been protected long ago, I dare say they wouldn't exist today. There are precious places that deserve and require protection. This is why all governments of the planet have adopted the USA's park model. It works! As someone who cares deeply about national parks and the public lands that sustain them, I urge you to choose the No Action alternative and keep the Roadless Rule in place. For more than two decades, the rule has protected roughly 44.7 million acres of ecologically intact national forest lands, including areas near Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Great Smoky Mountains national parks. These wild places safeguard clean water, provide essential wildlife habitat, support outdoor recreation, and help keep park ecosystems connected and healthy. Rescinding the rule would expose these treasured landscapes to new roads and development, fragmenting habitat, degrading waterways, and putting our parks at risk. Many public lands are already available for timber and energy development. Roadless protections apply to only about 30% of National Forest lands, making these remaining intact areas especially important for future generations. Please do not move forward with this unnecessary rollback. Keep the Roadless Rule in place to protect the forests, wildlife, clean water, and the national parks. Anita Smith 470 SE 74th Ave Okeechobee, FL 34974-8179 Sincerely, Anita Smith