Trump Administration Dismantles Protections for Millions of Acres of National Forests

WASHINGTON, D.C. - According to reporting from The New York Times, the Trump Administration is preparing to open millions of acres of national forest lands, including areas recommended for wilderness protection, to unsustainable off-road vehicle use. The proposal would direct the U.S. Forest Service to identify closed roads, trails, waterways, and other areas that could be reopened to motorized recreation and would immediately allow off-road vehicle use in millions of acres of recommended wilderness areas currently managed to preserve their wilderness character and opportunities for quiet recreation.

In response, Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club's Lands Protection Program, released the following statement:

"Based on what The New York Times has reported, the Trump Administration plans to put some of America's wildest public lands at risk by prioritizing unchecked off-road vehicle access over the protection of wildlife habitat, clean water, non-motorized recreation, and the natural character of our national forests.

"For decades, land managers have worked to balance recreation with conservation, ensuring that public lands remain healthy and accessible for everyone. Opening recommended wilderness areas and other sensitive landscapes to motorized vehicles threatens fragile ecosystems, damages the very qualities that make these places worth protecting, and undermines future conservation efforts. America's public lands belong to all of us, and future generations deserve the opportunity to experience truly wild places. Instead of weakening protections for our forests, the administration should be strengthening its commitment to conserving these irreplaceable landscapes."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.