Public Overwhelmingly Opposes Repeal of Roadless Rule

DENVER - More than 30,000 National Wildlife Federation members and supporters urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to not repeal the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. In addition, the National Wildlife Federation and 27 affiliates sent detailed comments denouncing the wholesale repeal of the 2001 conservation policy saying the rule was critical to safeguard wildlife habitat and coldwater fisheries, big game migration corridors, clean drinking water for tens of millions of Americans, and Indigenous areas that provide subsistence hunting and gathering of food.

"The Forest Service has a responsibility to ensure that future generations will enjoy the iconic species of our nation's forests and grasslands. Nearly 450 threatened and endangered species depend on roadless areas for their survival," said David Dreher, senior manager of public lands policy at the National Wildlife Federation. "There may be ways in which the Roadless Rule could be improved - and the National Wildlife Federation would support a thoughtful approach to amend the policy - but that is not what this rulemaking presents."

"Through treaty obligations, Tribes have rights to access specific sites and areas, including those protected by the Roadless Rule, for traditional food gathering, conducting religious practices, and other cultural practices that are not afforded to the broader public," said Gloria Tom, senior strategic and special policy adviser at the National Wildlife Federation. "In addition to protecting treaty rights and cultural resources, the Forest Service should explore opportunities for Tribal co-stewardship as part of any rule update. Many Tribal Nations have stewarded these lands since time immemorial, maintaining ecological integrity, fire resilience, and biodiversity through traditional ecological knowledge and practices."

"The Roadless Rule has safeguarded nearly 60 million acres of irreplaceable habitat for big game and cold water fish species for more than two decades. These areas provide some of the finest hunting and fishing in the nation, and indeed, the world," said Aaron Kindle, director of sporting advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation. "Hunters and anglers have spoken out in strong opposition to the repeal of the Roadless Rule because they know that this foundational conservation policy is key to safeguarding hunting and angling opportunities for future generations."