Peer-Reviewed Studies Supporting Roadless Area Protection
Over two decades of peer-reviewed research demonstrates that roadless areas are critical for biodiversity conservation, wildfire safety, clean water protection, and climate resilience. These studies provide the scientific foundation for defending the Roadless Area Conservation Rule.
Multiple studies demonstrate that roadless areas serve as essential refugia for threatened and endangered species, providing habitat connectivity and ecosystem integrity.
Early quantitative analysis showing roadless areas substantially complement biodiversity conservation, with many roadless areas overlapping areas important for imperiled species.
Klamath-Siskiyou case study mapped ~500 roadless areas and found roadless tracts bolster habitat representation and landscape connectivity, including smaller roadless patches.
National-scale analysis found 77% of roadless areas have potential to conserve threatened & endangered species, with strong concordance with grizzly recovery zones.
Species-level modeling shows 57% of vulnerable U.S. wildlife species have suitable habitat in roadless areas. Adding unprotected roadless areas to protected areas markedly reduces poorly-represented species of conservation concern.
Contrary to industry claims, scientific research shows roads actually increase fire risk rather than improving forest health.
National monitoring analysis using ~20 years of data found forests in roadless areas burned at similar frequencies as roaded areas. Claims that road prohibitions harm forest health are not supported by evidence.
Roadless areas serve as critical sources of clean water for millions of Americans, protecting watersheds from sediment and pollution.
Literature synthesis shows roaded landscapes correlate with higher sediment loads, while roadless areas act as refugia for salmonids and freshwater biodiversity.
Foundational environmental analysis documenting 58.5 million roadless area acres and comprehensive effects on soils, water, fish/wildlife, and socioeconomics. Core scientific record behind the Roadless Rule.
Roadless areas, especially old-growth forests, provide critical climate benefits through massive carbon storage and sequestration.
Tongass roadless areas contain very large biomass and soil carbon stocks, underscoring old-growth protection as a critical climate solution with global significance.
Finds Tongass & Chugach forests hold a disproportionate share of tree carbon in high-integrity landscapes among U.S. national forests—critical for meeting climate and biodiversity goals.
International research reinforces the critical importance of roadless areas for global conservation and biodiversity.
Produced the global roadless map showing roadless areas are fragmented and under-protected worldwide. Limiting road expansion is identified as a cost-effective conservation strategy.