“Most wildfires are caused by humans and most human-caused fires occur near roads”
The comment
As a person who appreciates the many values national forests bring to my state, my wellbeing, our wildlife and more, I support Alternative 1: The “No action alternative” because we should keep the Roadless Rule intact.
Wilderness areas have intrinsic value beyond what they can provide for immediate human use, but make no mistake we are all impacted by environmental destruction. In a time when human activity has impacted 70% of the land and 80% of the ocean, species extinction rates are at least 100 times what they were before human-caused industrial era impacts, we need to work harder than ever to preserve what remains of our wilderness areas and biodiversity. With our current administration seeking to reduce protections for endangered species, open the remaining wilderness areas to extraction and other profit-based motives, and continuously making ignorant and dangerous choices in the face of climate change, we need more than ever to protect what is left of the wilderness areas.
As a backpacker, I have had my most meaningful and healing moments in wilderness areas, including the Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, Mendocino, and Tahoe National Forests. As a Californian, I can say that one of the biggest draws to living in or visiting this state are it's many natural areas that still preserve biodiversity and wildness. When we go as a backpacker leaving no trace into these areas, we catch a glimpse of a world worth protecting. We have enough human impacted, road networked areas already. Let's leave the rest alone.
Roadless areas keep our forests healthy. They serve as the ecological backbone of our national forest lands and:
- Supply 50% of California’s drinking water
- Support Tribal cultural practices
- Enhance outdoor recreation including backcountry hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, camping, angling, and hunting
- Shelter over 200 imperiled species like the Pacific fisher and Sierra Nevada red fox
- Protect the military mission in part by serving as a crucial buffer against urbanization.
And, more roads mean more wildfire risk. Most wildfires are caused by humans and most human-caused fires occur near roads. We don’t need more.
Please move forward with the No Action Alternative 1: Keep the Roadless Rule intact.
Sincerely,
HEATHER KING
Mendocino, CA 95460