I urge the U.S. Forest Service to retain the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule and reject the proposed repeal.
As an Eagle Scout and an eighteen-year-old who spends time hiking, camping, and biking on public lands, protecting our forests matters deeply to me. Scouting taught me to leave places better than I found them and to consider how my actions affect those who come after me. I believe those same principles should guide how we manage our national forests.
Through Scouting and winter backpacking trips in Allegheny National Forest, I have learned how much spending time outdoors can teach a young person about responsibility, leadership, and looking after others. These experiences have also given me an appreciation for places where nature feels larger than the demands of everyday life. I want future generations to have those opportunities.
I oppose removing the Roadless Rule’s restrictions on road construction and timber harvesting. I am concerned that doing so would put intact forests, wildlife habitat, and watersheds at greater risk of lasting damage. Please fully evaluate the cumulative effects of additional roads and logging, including habitat fragmentation, erosion, and the loss of opportunities for quiet recreation.
I recognize that wildfire protection and forest management are serious responsibilities. However, I ask the Forest Service to explain why those goals cannot be achieved while retaining the rule and using its existing exceptions, rather than repealing these protections broadly.
Our public forests belong to future generations as well as those of us alive today. As a young person, I will live with the consequences of this decision for decades. Please retain the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and protect the forests we still have the opportunity to preserve.