U.S. Forest Service proposes changes to Roadless Area conservation rules

The Woodwell Climate Research Center has submitted comments regarding the U.S. Forest Service’s proposed rule concerning Special Areas and Roadless Area Conservation. The proposal involves a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement to repeal the Roadless Rule, which has protected over 40 million acres of forest from commercial logging since 2001.

Woodwell expressed concerns that while the proposed rule suggests a 5 to 10 percent increase in the annual National Forest System sawtimber harvest, Executive Order 14225 may necessitate a 25 percent increase or larger. This could lead to targeting mature and old-growth forests in Roadless Areas for logging. The organization highlighted the significant carbon stocks held in these areas, noting that Inventoried Roadless Areas in the conterminous United States contain approximately 2.0 billion metric tons of carbon. The Tongass National Forest in Alaska is specifically identified as a major area of concern due to its vast acreage of mature forest.