Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Trump administration moved to gut protections for nearly 60 million acres of national forests across the country.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the administration’s intention to revoke Roadless Rule protections nationwide for public lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service. The decision reverses protections for 58.5 million acres of public lands, enabling industrial-scale logging, roadbuilding, and other extractive activities in fragile ecosystems.
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, commonly known as the Roadless Rule, was enacted in 2001 by President Bill Clinton. More than 1.6 million public comments were submitted in support of keeping wild landscapes intact, and it has withstood decades of attacks from critics. The rule has been crucial in preserving the integrity of intact wild landscapes across the West, and most notably in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska – the largest remaining old growth forest in the country.
In response, Alex Craven, Sierra Club’s forest campaign manager, released the following statement:
“Once again, the Trump administration is ignoring the voices of millions of Americans to pursue a corporate giveaway for his billionaire buddies. Stripping our national forests of roadless rule protections will put close to 60 million acres of wildlands across the country on the chopping block. That means polluting our clean air and drinking water sources to pad the bottom lines of timber and mining companies – all while pursuing the same kind of mismanagement that increases wildfire severity.
“Two decades ago, millions of Americans demanded protections for our wild landscapes and forests – and our leaders listened. Right now, when millions of Americans are demanding the preservation of the national forests we treasure, it’s critical our leaders listen and not sell them out to billionaires and private industry.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.