“Most of our large fires impacting our forest communities start in roaded forests”
What it names
Works cited
Andrews et al. 2015
The comment
Hello - I am a resident of eastern Washington state and am opposed to the proposed changes to the Roadless Rule for a number of reasons.
The lands protected by the rule provides habitat fresh, clean water for drinking and irrigation where I live by slowing runoff and and allowing rain and snow melt to better percolate into groundwater.
Large roadless area provide a haven promoting biodiversity of plants and animals in our area. These animals might be game animals, songbirds, predators, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Roads promote the introduction of invasive species that impact our native plant communities.
Roads built to clear cut our forests or to promote oil extraction will not improve forest health, and will in fact produce more forest fires. Most of our large fires impacting our forest communities start in roaded forests.
Roadless areas are used by tourists and visitors to hike, fish, hunt, bicycle, birdwatch, and camp. Our visitors come to our area to enjoy the wild country. The rescission of the Roadless rule will have a major negative impact on the beauty of our public lands impacting our local tourist economy.
As a hiker, I use these lands regularly. Road building and industrial development will harm my quality of life. These wild lands are why I live here.