Former Forest Service Chiefs Back Roadless Rule at 25-Year Milestone

Today marks 25 years of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The rule was adopted after extensive public participation to protect millions of acres of public forests from roadbuilding and commercial logging.

The Trump administration is trying to repeal the important conservation measure in its entirety, potentially putting more than 45 million acres of National Forests at risk across the country. This summer in response, over 600,000 Americans from all corners of the country, spoke out during the first public comment period, the vast majority of which opposed the rollback.

Serving for both Republican and Democratic administrations, four former Forest Service Chiefs, with over 150 years of experience in public lands management, have voiced their support to keep the Roadless Area Conservation Rule in place. The Chiefs made the following statements: 

Dale Bosworth, Former Chief of USDA Forest Service (2001-2007): 

“The 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule was a landmark accomplishment of the USDA Forest Service. Our nation's Inventoried Roadless Areas protect essential headwaters, save taxpayers money by directing forestry activities to appropriate landscapes, and provide unparalleled opportunities for families seeking backcountry experiences in settings that allow for a wider range of recreational access than designated Wilderness. Importantly, the Roadless Rule secures these benefits while also providing line officers full power to preemptively reduce wildfire danger to communities, and to fight fires when necessary. The Roadless Rule is working for America's National Forest System and it's working for the American taxpayer. As we say, ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it.’"

Vicki Christiansen, Former Chief of USDA Forest Service (2018-2021):  

“More than 60 million Americans get their drinking water from streams that flow from the 193 million acres of national forests. Truly, we have a federal public land system in the U.S. that serves us daily and is the envy of natural resource professionals around the world for the benefits realized by our citizens daily. Removing protection of these precious lands, that belong to all citizens rich and poor, would be an irreparable tragedy.”

Tom Tidwell, Former Chief of USDA Forest Service (2009-2017):

"Sound resource management decisions like the Roadless Rule are durable and highly successful because they are based on science, have strong public support and make economic sense. As President Theodore Roosevelt stated; ‘I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or to rob, by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.’ The Roadless Rule has prevented waste of natural resources and taxpayers dollars."

Mike Dombeck, Former Chief of USDA Forest Service (1997-2001): 

“Roadless area conservation is a down payment on the well-being of future generations.  Under the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, more than 58.5 million acres of roadless areas will continue to cleanse the water for downstream use by millions of Americans nationwide.  They will continue to serve as a refuge for native plant and animal species and a bulwark against the spread of nonnative invasive species.  As a baseline for natural habitats and ecosystems, they will continue to offer rare opportunities for study, research, and education.  Finally, they will continue to offer terrific opportunities for hunting, fishing, and other dispersed forms of recreation on large, undisturbed landscapes where visitors can find privacy and solitude. As Aldo Leopold once put it, our remaining unroaded wildlands are a national treasure, a ‘wealth to the human spirit.’” 

For more information, contact Emily Denny, Communications Manager at The Wilderness Society, edenny@tws.org