The National Forest System encompasses over 193 million acres, 30% of which is considered an “inventoried roadless area.” The U.S. Forest Service first started identifying roadless areas in the 1970s. While these special places do not have the same protections as congressionally designated Wilderness, they often have Wilderness characteristics—a lack of permanent roads and other development as well as relatively intact forests.
In 2001, the Clinton administration enacted the Roadless Area Conservation Rule after a lengthy and robust public input process. This agency regulation applies to millions of acres across the country, including 635,000 acres in Los Padres National Forest alone. The Roadless Rule survived some earlier legal challenges and has been instrumental in preventing roadbuilding, clearcutting, oil and gas development, and other industrial activities for nearly a quarter-century.
Millions of people enjoy hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, and driving off-highway vehicles along thousands of miles of designated trails in roadless areas.
Now, the Trump administration is trying to rescind the Roadless Rule.
This latest assault on the Roadless Rule is the most dangerous yet. The current administration is using arguments and talking points straight from the timber industry’s playbook. Rescinding the Roadless Rule will allow for permanent logging roads, the commercial removal of large trees, and other damaging actions. You can speak up for roadless areas by sending a comment to the U.S. Forest Service and by urging Congress to pass the Roadless Area Conservation Area.
See below for a map of roadless areas in Los Padres National Forest and ways you can get involved.
