“A study conducted by the forest service based on 20 years of data”
“Another study that analyzed 32 years of data”
“A 2019 study indicated that in Utah alone”
What it names
Works cited
10.1088/1748-932610.1186/s42408-026-00450-210.2489/jswc.66.3.78aDellaSala et al. 2011Healey 2020
The comment
I would like to oppose rescinding the federal 2001 roadless rule. This rule prohibts road construction and logging on nearly 60 million acres of Forest Service land. This rule protects our wild and wildnerness spaces, reduces risk of wildfires, and helps to support our ecosystem overall. A study conducted by the forest service based on 20 years of data itself concluded that more roads to NOT lead to better forest health and, in fact, increase the spreaad of invasive plant species and do not increase fire-management activity (Healey, 2020). Another study that analyzed 32 years of data (Aplet, Hartger, & Dietz, 2026) demonstrated that wildfires ignition rates in roadless areas is considerably lower than areas closer to roads. A 2019 study indicated that in Utah alone over 100 species of plant and animals are at risk of decline without the protections of the roadless rule (McClure, & Dickson, 2019). Additional research has indicated that rescinding the roadless rule will impact our drinking water as roads play a major role in movement and contamination of sediments in water sources (DellaSala, 2011; DaSala, Karr, & Olson, 2011).
There are no long-term benefits of rescinding this rule. Any perceived benefits are short-lived and short-sighted.
Citations:
Aplet, G.H., Hartger, P. & Dietz, M.S. Three-decade record of contiguous-U.S. national forest wildfires indicates increased density of ignitions near roads. fire ecol 22, 8 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-026-00450-2
DellaSala, 2011. Roadless ares and clean water. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 66(3): 78A-84A DOI:10.2489/jswc.66.3.78A
DellaSala, D. A., Karr, J. R., & Olson, D. M. (2011). Roadless areas and clean water. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 66(3), 78A-84A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.66.3.78A
Healey, 2020. Long-term forest health implications of roadlessness, 15, 1748-9326, DOI:10.1088/1748-9326, 10, Environmental Research Letters, IOP Publishing
McClure, & Dickson, 2019. Predicted impacts of Utah's roadless areas proposal: Biodiversity loss, habitat fragmentation, and ecosysten degradation. Conservation Science Partners.