U.S. Forest Service:
I’m writing in strong opposition to the proposal to change the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
I have direct experience of the impact of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. I lived and worked in and adjacent to the Stanislaus National Forest for more than two decades - spanning the introduction of the roadless rule. During that time my family, friends, and co-workers traveled many old and new logging roads. And we hiked many forested miles without logging roads.
The differences between roads and roadless areas is stark and not trivial.
Roads through our national forests lead to:
•heavily eroded hillsides and river banks in fragile ecosystems;
•downstream pollution fouling fishing and drinking waters;
•significantly more illegal poaching and logging;
•greater incidence of life-threatening wildfires; and
•wasteful use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize, build, repair, and maintain destructive infrastructure
The Roadless Rule:
•prevents or significantly reduces each of these destructive outcomes;
•protects recreational, ecological, and economically sustainable uses of the nation’s forest lands;
•is a proven, fiscally responsible way to manage the nation’s natural resources; and
•has been validated as an effective, successful public policy by numerous studies.
The Forest Service is mandated by Congress to manage our national forests for “multiple use” and “sustained yield.” The roadless rule is an irreplaceable tool in that management toolbox. Rescinding or weakening the rule would open almost a third of our national forests – our national heritage – to certain destruction. I’ve seen what our forests looked like before there was a roadless rule. It would be the height of irresponsibility to return to that kind of unsustainable, destructive policy.
Retain the Roadless Area Conservation Rule!
Nikki Mandell
Former resident, and current property owner bordering the Stanislaus National Forest