FS-2025-0001-577818

I strongly oppose the repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This rule should be strengthened, not gutted. More than 730,000 acres of the first declared wilderness area in the world -- the Gila Wilderness -- stand to be gutted under the rule. The devastation this would cause to the local economy is unthinkable. Ecologically, rescinding the rule would devastate one of the most pristine areas in the world; giving up what is truly American about America. Roadless areas provide clean drinking water to 60 million Americans. I don't want exhaust in my water. Do you? These undeveloped lands are critical to our nation’s ecological health. They provide homes to the flora and fauna that define America. These areas store 20% of all carbon in U.S. national forests, providing a cushion against a rapidly changing climate. Roadless areas offer abundant outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking hunting, fishing, camping and other activities. Every year, millions of people take advantage of the free (or extremely affordable) access to these public lands. The outdoor recreation economy generates $730 billion annually, far more than timber sales. My community relies entirely on outdoor recreation for its economic stability. Visitors to the Gila Wilderness sustain local businesses, providing food, lodging, retail sales, and more. Outfitters depend on roadless areas to take people out on hunts, horsepacking trips, and other wilderness excursions. Recission of the Roadless Rule would devastate these businesses. Roadless areas are crucial habitat for 1,600+ threatened species, including the Mexican Grey Wolf, Gila Trout, and many others. We don't need more roads. We need to maintain the ones we have. We already have 370,000 miles of forest roads with a multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog. The argument that roads would make it easier to fight wildfires is specious. Studies show wildfire ignitions are 4x more likely near roads than in roadless areas. In addition, wildfire is an essential part of forest health. Many species, such as the Lodgepole Pine, Manzanita, Giant Sequoia, and the Sandplain Lupine, depend on fire to reproduce and thrive. The heat and smoke generated by frequent first trigger germination and rejuvenation of these species. In my own back yard, the ponderosa pine ecosystem has had a long and inseparable relationship with fire, depending on frequent low-intensity fires to thrive. I can only close with a quote from Aldo Leopold, close friend of Theodore Roosevelt and the father of the Wilderness Act: “Cease being intimidated by the argument that a right action is impossible because it does not yield maximum profits, or that a wrong action is to be condoned because it pays.” ― Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac Rescinding the Roadless Rule would be a very, very wrong action.