I strongly support keeping the Roadless Rule in place, including protections for roadless areas in the Los Padres National Forest.
I grew up spending a lot of time outdoors, and those experiences shaped my deep appreciation for wild places. The forests, mountains, and open spaces I was fortunate enough to experience helped teach me to love and respect the natural world. I want future generations to have that same opportunity.
Protecting roadless areas is about more than preserving beautiful landscapes. It is about maintaining safe, undisturbed spaces where wildlife can thrive, supporting biodiversity, protecting intact ecosystems, and allowing wild places to remain wild. Once these places are fragmented or developed, we cannot simply recreate what was lost.
The Los Padres National Forest is a special part of our natural heritage, and its remaining roadless areas deserve to be protected. I urge decision-makers to keep the Roadless Rule and preserve these wild spaces for wildlife, for future generations, and for everyone who finds meaning and connection in the outdoors.