"The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule has functioned as a safeguard for some of the most secluded and pristine lands in the Western U.S, prohibiting the construction of roads as well as timber harvesting on 30% of the acreage managed by the U.S. Forest Service."
"On June 23, 2025, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the intent to rescind the rule entirely, with a definitive decision expected in late 2026."
"The USDA issued a formal reorganization order for the Forest Service, signaling a pivot toward a more aggressive, leaner extraction-oriented management model for the agency."
"President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14225, mandating a 25% increase in timber volume across the West, fundamentally shifting the foundation of the West's backcountry."
For 25 years, 58 million acres of American forest have been protected from logging and road construction under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This protection is changing as the U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to rescind the rule, with a draft environmental impact statement expected soon. Additionally, a reorganization of the Forest Service aims to facilitate extraction orders. These changes stem from an executive order mandating a significant increase in timber production, signaling a shift towards industrialization in protected lands.
Read at High Country News
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