My name is Emily Stevenson and I oppose the proposal to fully or partially rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. At least some of the land protected by this legislation is very close to me in the Willamette National Forest. Of course like much of the Pacific Northwest, this area is beautiful and offers many options for outdoor recreation but it is also hugely important in terms of biodiversity. Protecting these areas is not just about how us humans will feel about it. It is also about how the entire ecosystems in these area depend on and benefit from their protection.
It is our job to be stewards of the land. Removing these protections would be the exact opposite of that. It would lead to the destruction of these lands and the living things that call them home.
For the reasons listed above, fully or partially rescinding the Roadless Rule under Alternatives 2 and 3 of the draft EIS would be a grave mistake and I oppose any changes made to the rule.