“Two scientific reasons weigh especially strongly”
“Forest Service's own report”
“documents these ecological concerns”
What it names
Works cited
10.2737/pnw-gtr-509U 2001
The comment
Please retain the 2001 Roadless Rule.
I live in Mill Valley, California, and recently spent a weekend camping and walking among the redwoods in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Being among those trees reminded me how much intact forests mean to me and how much I want my daughter to have opportunities to experience places like that. Although that state park is not governed by this rule, it captures why protecting wild forests is personal to me.
Two scientific reasons weigh especially strongly. First, forest roads can increase erosion and carry sediment into streams, harming aquatic habitat and water quality. Second, roads fragment habitat and can disrupt wildlife movement. Keeping remaining roadless areas intact helps preserve connected ecosystems.
The Forest Service’s own report, “Forest roads: a synthesis of scientific information” (2001; doi:10.2737/PNW-GTR-509), documents these ecological concerns. Please retain national roadless protections and account fully for these impacts before considering their removal.