To the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
As an outdoor enthusiast who has traversed roadless country across multiple national forests, I submit these comments in opposition to the proposed rescission of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a rule whose administrative durability reflects the depth of the public record upon which it rests.
Hiking through these areas allow me to feel connected to the natural world.
A pristine place of beauty.
Regarding the Alexander Springs Creek in the Ocala National Forest, Florida:
Population-level impacts of Slight or 1-10% pop. decline severity across Large (31-70%) scope are documented for Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi, G2, T) in the Alexander Springs Creek IRA, Ocala National Forest, driven by 4.1 - Roads & railroads.
Roads enable the equipment access, land conversion, and human activity that activate 4.1 - Roads & railroads. Without road infrastructure, the extractive and development pressures behind this threat category cannot reach Eastern Indigo Snake habitat in Alexander Springs Creek.
The agency cannot satisfy its analytical obligations with a national-level discussion of roadless values. The DEIS must address 4.1 - Roads & railroads as it affects Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi) specifically within the Alexander Springs Creek IRA, Ocala National Forest.
"Frequent human disturbance caused by mining development and road construction in the Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve (KNR) — inhabited by >80% of Chinese khulan (Equus hemionus) — has interfered with or completely blocked their movement and access to parts of the reserve. The habitat of khulan in KNR went from a good natural habitat in 2005 to deterioration due to mining development in 2011. In 2019, road construction likely hindered its recovery to pre-mining levels. Our study revealed the significant impacts that mining development and road construction have had on the distribution of core habitats, ecological corridors, and movement of khulan."
— Biological Conservation (ScienceDirect), 2022
“Frequent human disturbance caused by mining development and road construction in the Kalamaili Mountain Ungulate Nature Reserve (KNR) — inhabited by >80% of Chinese khulan (Equus hemionus) — has interfered with or completely blocked their movement and access to parts of the reserve. The habitat of khulan in KNR went from a good natural habitat in 2005 to deterioration due to mining development in 2011. In 2019, road construction likely hindered its recovery to pre-mining levels. Our study revealed the significant impacts that mining development and road construction have had on the distribution of core habitats, ecological corridors, and movement of khulan. — Biological Conservation (ScienceDirect), 2022 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109770)”
Keep the forests as they are.
Kind regards,
CommentID: RLC-20261007-0SN1XH