“not fragmented, logged, and mined for private or corporate benefit”
“short-term corporate interests”
“not simply utilized for our own personal resourceful gain”
The comment
I urge you to suspend the current proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (i.e., “Roadless Rule”). The Roadless Rule was created with overwhelming public support and has protected forests for more than 25 years. Decisions about these areas should be based on science, not short-term corporate interests.
These protected forests provide important habitat for wildlife, protect clean water, and give people opportunities to enjoy and connect with nature. These places should continue to be protected, not fragmented, logged, and mined for private or corporate benefit.
The lack of care and consideration from our lawmakers and congresspeople towards our public natural spaces from has been incredibly disappointing to witness. I urge you to consider the damage this can cause to the biodiversity in the areas that could affected. Important biodiversity and habitats could be completely lost for what little comes of corporate “benefit”. Natural spaces should be kept as natural spaces and not simply utilized for our own personal resourceful gain.
I have a deep connection to the forests surrounding the Caribou-Speckled Wilderness, some of the now-threatened Roadless Areas in Maine. These intact ecosystems are special places for people to visit, explore, and learn about nature, provide habitat for several threatened species, and are home to some of New England's last remaining old-growth forests. Mainers cannot afford to lose the habitat and water quality benefits provided by these Roadless Areas. I urge you to protect these places for future generations by suspending the current proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule.
Sincerely,
Wyatt Steffensen
7 Mildred St South Portland, ME 04106-2729
wyattsteff18@gmail.com