I am writing to urge you to not revoke protections for roadless areas. As a Californian who has had the privilege of experiencing the wonder of forests in Northern and Southern California, such as the Klamath National Forest, Los Padres National Forest, and the San Gabriel Mountains, I believe that keeping these places roadless will continue to shape the quality of life in our state. Roadless areas are some of the last places where old-growth trees still stand and where wildlife is able to live as it has for thousands of years, with its habitat intact. Once a road is built, that continuity is broken and cannot be restored. These places are irreplaceable.
California's wilderness is what makes living here feel rich. Hiking through forests, breathing fresh air, and knowing that wild places still exist is inspiring and healthy. With so little undeveloped land left, protecting the health of what remains of our forests, its watersheds, and its wildlife is worth far more than destroying it.
The Forest Service should keep the Roadless Rule intact exactly as it is. Do not weaken or repeal this critical policy.
National forests are the heart of our public lands. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects some of the wildest forests we have left, forests that protect critical wildlife habitat and drinking water for millions. Revoking the Roadless Rule puts landscapes, wildlife, and communities at risk.
Not only is the Roadless Rule good policy, it's also wildly popular across the country, with over 600,000 people submitting comments to the US Forest Service last year in support of keeping the rule in place. And more than 20 years ago, the American people overwhelmingly called for our national forests to be protected for future generations. Revoking the Roadless Rule would destroy the natural inheritance we leave for our children.