SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Trump administration is set to revoke a nearly 25-year rule that prohibits logging on national forest land, as announced by Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins on Monday.
The roadless regulations, established by President Bill Clinton on his final day in 2001, have faced criticism from Republican lawmakers, especially in the western states where expansive national forests exist and logging has declined.
Rollins stated that the rules interfere with road construction and “responsible timber production,” while also increasing the risk of significant wildfires, during the annual meeting of the Western Governor’s Association.
“This action marks the beginning of a new era of forest resilience and sustainability in our nation,” Rollins remarked.
Experts indicate that the degradation of wilderness areas is driven by a mix of climate change, which leads to warmer and drier forests, decreased logging, and decades of fire suppression that have allowed fuel to build up.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, roadless regulations impact around 30% of national forest lands across the nation, equating to approximately 59 million acres (24 million hectares).
The USDA further notes that new rules for Idaho and Colorado, excluding highways, will replace the boundaries set by the 2001 roadless regulations. Thus, not all national forest lands will be affected by this withdrawal.
Rollins’ announcement on Monday is the initial step toward rescinding roadless rules in the upcoming weeks, as elaborated in a statement from the Agriculture Department.
This announcement coincides with recent discussions about potentially selling some federal land to enhance housing affordability, a proposal criticized by Democrats as a compromise to public lands.
The reception to selling public land has been mixed among governors, with some expressing enthusiasm for economic development while others voiced concerns over diminished public access to shared land. Same meeting
Doug Burgham of the Home Office, addressing a panel of governors and an audience in a hotel ballroom, depicted a new “era of wealth” in public land under President Donald Trump’s administration focused on resource development, which includes energy and essential minerals needed for domestic production of cell phones, computers, and vehicles.
Outside a downtown Santa Fe hotel, hundreds of protesters rallied against efforts to privatize federal public lands, chanting “not for sale,” and emphasizing that “this land belongs to you and me” while advocating for “keeping public lands free for future generations.”
On social media, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, an ally of Trump, described the rollback of roadless protections as “another example of President Trump fulfilling his campaign promise to unlock resources for responsible development.”
In contrast, the proposed changes in roadless areas signify a stark deviation from the Biden administration’s policies, which focused on restricting logging rather than expanding timber harvest areas. Protects old-growth forests.
Environmental organizations aiming to maintain logging and road construction limitations in areas such as Tongass National Forest in Alaska have condemned the potential repeal of protections.
“This attempt to eliminate protections is an affront to the air and water we rely on, as well as the wealth of recreational opportunities enjoyed by millions annually. It jeopardizes essential wildlife habitats and serves as a critical buffer for communities facing increasingly severe wildfire seasons.”
Contrary to Rollins’ assertion regarding wildfire risk reduction, Rachel Humvey, Political Director of Western Priorities, argues that logging will worsen climate change and intensify wildfires.
“This is simply a substantial giveaway to timber companies at the cost of forests that belong to all Americans,” Humvey stated.
In Alaska, home to Tongass, the largest national forest in the U.S., the roadless rule has long been the subject of legal disputes, with state leaders pushing for exemptions.
During the latter half of Trump’s first term, the federal government lifted restrictions on logging and road construction in Tongass, a policy that the Biden administration later reversed.
In January, Trump called for a return to policy from his first term through an Alaska-specific executive order designed to promote the development, mining, and logging of the state’s natural resources.
Tongass is a temperate rainforest comprising glaciers and robust coastal islands, providing habitats for wildlife species such as bears, wolves, salmon, and bald eagles.
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The report was filed from Juneau, Alaska. Contributions were made by Mead Gruber of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Matthew Daly of Washington, D.C.; and Matthew Brown of Helena, Montana.
Source: apnews.com