Under Trump, U.S. Forest Service Threatens to Bulldoze 44 Million Acres of Our National Forests
Under control by Trump appointees, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed the repeal of rules which have protected critical roadless natural areas in national forests for a quarter-century.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) noted that the proposed rule change would strip protections from nearly 45 million acres of national forest, roughly one-third of the National Forest System. “The Trump administration is moving to gut our most iconic national forests by giving loggers and drillers free rein to turn them into industrial wastelands. It is trying to walk away from the most successful land conservation policy in modern U.S. history. The American people will not let this plan stand,” said Andrew Wetzler, senior vice president for nature at NRDC.
Importance of Continuous, Roadless Forests
“Roadless forests provide some of the nation’s most intact habitat, help maintain clean and reliable water supplies, and include places of deep cultural importance to Indigenous communities,” said David Dreher, senior manager for public lands policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “These landscapes also sustain hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation that contributes to local economies.”
“The Roadless Rule is one of the biggest conservation wins of the modern era and it has reliably delivered the benefits it was designed to year after year,” said Kristin Gendzier, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC). “The Forest Service’s misguided proposal will clear the way for reckless projects that can permanently scar these spectacular roadless landscapes and do long-lasting harm to countless communities that depend on our national forests for tourism, recreation, and clean drinking water.”
Who Benefits From Repealing This Rule?
“For the last 25 years, the Roadless Rule has protected America’s most pristine and ecologically intact forests. Now, in a clear giveaway to billionaire industry executives – and against the wishes of the millions of people who have voiced their support for these protections over the last three decades – Trump and his allies want to gut protections for more than 44 million acres of our national forests,” said America Fitzpatrick, Conservation Program Director for the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). “The lands protected by the Roadless Rule provide important wildlife habitat and clean drinking water for millions of people, and are critical to fighting the climate crisis. We cannot allow the Trump administration to bulldoze our public lands, national forests, and bedrock environmental protections – all to pad the profits of their industry donors.”
What Does This Mean for North Carolina?
In North Carolina, the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests contain nearly 152,000 acres of designated roadless areas within their million acres of forest. Under the Pisgah–Nantahala Forest Plan, these roadless areas are managed primarily as “backcountry” or under more restrictive designations such as the Appalachian Trail Corridor, Heritage Corridors or designated Wilderness Areas.
Get Involved: Make Your Voice Heard
We have until September 21 to oppose this repeal. Go to this link to make your voice heard today!
