Sierra Club Statement on USDA Announcement to Remove Roadless Rule Protections
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its latest step to eliminate protections under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, claiming the move is necessary to reduce wildfire risk and expand forest management. Since the Forest Service created the Roadless Rule in 2001, it has protected millions of acres of national forests from road construction and industrial extraction for more than two decades.
In response, Alex Craven, Sierra Club Forest Campaign manager, released the following statement:
“For more than two decades, the Roadless Rule has protected the heart of our public lands, saved taxpayer dollars, and enjoyed overwhelming popularity with the general public. Once again, Donald Trump is showing he is eager to throw away a successful, commonsense policy while offering nothing but baseless justifications for doing so.
“The Roadless Area Conservation Rule is the only thing preventing much of our wildest remaining national forests from industrial development. These forests offer critical habitat for wildlife; provide clean, fresh air and water for millions; and contain vast swaths of the last remaining old-growth forests in the country.
“The administration’s attempt to blame the Roadless Rule for worsening wildfire risk ignores both the facts and the rule itself. Roads generally lead to more ignitions and result in more wildfires — not fewer. And, the Roadless Rule has always allowed for targeted actions to reduce hazardous fuels. What it does not allow is using wildfire as an excuse to open some of America’s most intact public forests to industrial exploitation and new road construction. Americans want and deserve forests managed for clean water, wildlife, recreation, and climate resilience — not another giveaway to extractive industries.
“Sierra Club will fight this reckless proposal every step of the way and stand alongside our partners, Tribes, scientists, and communities to defend the roadless forests that belong to all Americans.”
Featured image by Nunzio Guerrera
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