I am urging the United States Department of Agriculture against rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule that establishes prohibitions on logging operations in roadless areas. Even since I was young, I always loved to explore the beautiful forests of my area. I loved seeing the old-growth redwoods of California, the immersively of their beauty and their age. It felt heavenly to be around the old-growth forests, places that have been around longer than any of us. But now it seems that this beauty, the experiences that shaped my childhood are threatened. It now seems that our children may never experience the beauty and magnificent of the world that we did. That is why I am urging you to the bottom of my heart to not rescind the 2011 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
Much of the National Forests the Roadless Area Rule protects are old-growth forests. Old growth forests are not only personally important to me, they also have a special ecological role. A study from Gilhen-Baker et al. (2022) found that many endangered species rely on old-growth forests as habitats. These endangered species, the richness and beauty of the world, may go extinct if the Roadless Area Conservation Rule is rescinded. Old-growth forests are important for biodiversity. Old-growth forests in Northern Europe are associated with greater species richness and a higher degree of unique species, increasing both the greater alpha and beta diversity (Nirhamo, 2025). It is likely that the results in boreal Europe are applicable to many parts of the US including Washington and Idaho. If the Roadless Area Conservation Rule is rescinded, that could allow logging or road construction across old-growth forests, destroying or harming these ecological vital areas forever.
The intent of rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule is to reduce regulatory burden and return decisionmaking to the local level, protecting people and forests from wildfires. As someone living on the West Coast, wildfires are a significant concern for me. I am concerned for my neighbors and the forests if one day flames will be next door. So, I am thankful that the USDA is looking to address wildlife risk. However, I do not believe that rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule will reduce wildlife risk. In fact, I believe wildfire risk will increase. A study from Bradley et al. (2026) challenged the assumption that forest protection corresponds to increased wildfire risk. They found the opposite, that higher levels of protection causes less severe wildfires. Unprotected forests may experience logging or other harming operations that can reduce the health and strength of the forest in the event of a fire. Rescinding the Roadless Rule would seem to result in more wildfire risk and severity, not less.
I recommend that USDA consider the studies and science regarding efficient land management practices. Often prescribed burning is significantly more efficient at reducing wildlife risk than logging practices. Prescribed burning thins out the fuel in the forest, leading to less fuel on the ground that could become a severe fire. I would recommend rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, not only to protect against wildfires, but for the beauty and magnificent of these areas.
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule is essential to creating efficient, safe and ethical land management practices. It protects against wildfires and protects the ecological productivity of the world. Instead of rescinding the rule and allowing logging, I would recommend considering prescribing bringing to reduce wildlife risk. The choice to protect the beauty of our world, to protect the dignity of our children and their childhoods is in your hands. I hope you make the right choice.
Thank you for your time and your service.
References
Bradley, C. M., Hanson, C. T., & DellaSala, D. A. (2016). Does increased forest protection correspond to higher fire severity in frequent‐fire forests of the Western United States? Ecosphere, 7(10). https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1492
Gilhen-Baker, M., Roviello, V., Beresford-Kroeger, D., & Roviello, G. N. (2022). Old growth forests and large old trees as critical organisms connecting ecosystems and human health. A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 20(2), 1529–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-021-01372-y
Nirhamo, A., Aakala, T., & Kouki, J. (2025). Forest biodiversity in Boreal Europe: Species richness and turnover among old-growth forests, managed forests and clearcut sites. Biological Conservation, 306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111147