As we’ve previously covered, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which currently restricts approximately 59 million acres of National Forest System lands— or nearly 1/3 of our forests. This move is part of a broader initiative to promote what the USDA describes as “common-sense forest management” and to reduce regulatory burdens on industries such as timber and mining. This rollback will enhance local decision-making and improve forest health by allowing more active management by the USFS, including wildfire risk mitigation. The proposal is currently open for public comment until September 19, 2025.
The Roadless Rule prohibits road construction and reconstruction and timber harvest while it forces the Forest Service to prioritize soil, scenic values and roadless characteristics. It has essentially become a way to bypass Congress to designate forests as Wilderness. This rule effects camping, overlanding, singletrack, full sized 4×4 vehicles, events and everything in between.
The rescission would eliminate the existing prohibitions on road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas, thereby allowing for increased forest management flexibility. While this would eliminate the federal rule, states such as Idaho and Colorado, have existing state-specific roadless rules. These state rules would remain in effect unless modified by the respective state governments.
The Roadless Rule is one of the main contributors to rampant wildfires across the west. Because of Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA’s) wildfire mitigation, and treatment cannot move forward. Not only are these wildfire catastrophic to access, health and the environment they are costly to the American people. Of the 59 million acres covered under the Rule, 28 million acres are in areas at high or very high risk of wildfire according to the USDA. The Roadless Rule restrictions have contributed to the 36 million acres of forest that have burned since the Rule was adopted, according to the American Forest Resource Council.
Just the southern California wildfires earlier this year are estimated to be one of the costliest natural disasters in history with estimates of more than a $250 billion economic loss. Not only can habitat and species not afford these wildfires anymore but the American tax payer also cannot continue to afford the irresponsible management of our forests. In California alone in 2025 there have been 31 fatalities. Hands off forest management clearly isn’t working. This approach is required due to the Roadless rule.
When these roadless area tinderboxes ignite, they —obviously— don’t actually “conserve” the forest nor protect wildlife. But they also completely inhibit recreation. Rescinding this rule will allow forests to be actively managed with every available tool for more flexibility to reduce wildfire risk and protect surrounding communities and infrastructure. It also reopens our forests to responsible recreation once again, so that more Americans can enjoy their public lands.
BlueRibbon Coalition has been fighting to rescind this rule for over 24 years, and it was #1 on our list of priorities that we shared with congressional representatives earlier this year. It goes without saying, we strongly support the Roadless Rule rescission. Its rescission will allow active management for our forests which will make our forests beautiful, safe and accessible again. Let’s get it done. Comments are due September 19th! Add yours via the form below.
