Trump Administration Plans to Rescind Roadless Area Conservation Rule

The Trump administration announced plans to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a 2001 regulation established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The rule currently prohibits road construction and timber harvesting across 58 million acres of National Forest land.

Opponents of the rescission argue the move will cause soil erosion, degrade water quality, and result in the permanent loss of critical wildlife habitats for species including brown bears and salmon. Critics also dispute claims that opening these lands to timber harvesting would mitigate wildfires, asserting that such fires are instead driven by drought and climate change.