The Trump administration has proposed to end protections for nearly 45 million acres of national forests, which would allow for logging and road construction in these areas. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Forest Service has filed a proposed rule to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, citing it as a restriction that limits wildfire risk-reduction efforts.
The repeal would affect approximately 44.7 million acres, as Idaho and Colorado have their own regulations that take precedence over the federal rule. The 2001 rule, enacted during the Clinton administration, prohibits road building and logging on about 59 million acres of national forest land. The Trump administration argues that the rule has hindered wildfire prevention work.
Research on the impact of logging on wildfire prevention is mixed. Some studies suggest that forest thinning can help slow the spread of wildfires, while others indicate that wildfires are more likely to start near roads and that tree removal may create conditions that increase wildfire risk.
Roadless areas comprise about 30% of all national forest land, totaling nearly 60 million acres. The majority of inventoried roadless areas are located in ten Western states, which have seen increased wildfire risks due to prolonged heatwaves and droughts.
Governor Mark Gordon of Wyoming stated that proper management of forests is essential for maintaining their health and reducing fire hazards. In contrast, conservationists have opposed the administration's proposal, warning that it could endanger wildlife in national forests. Earthjustice President Abigail Dillen emphasized the importance of the Roadless Rule for protecting forests and expressed commitment to defending it.