House Package Includes Key Win for National Forests

On July 29, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5118, The Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act. H.R. 5118 is a package of nearly 50 bills aimed at curbing wildfire and drought and improving forest management. The Wilderness Society applauds the inclusion of the Roadless Area Conservation Act in the package. 

The Roadless Area Conservation Act would codify the 2001 Roadless Rule, and would provide permanent protection for inventoried roadless areas in the National Forest System by barring the construction and development of roads, timber harvesting and other development.   

“The long-awaited provisions included in this package of legislation would help build resilient forests and communities in the face of rapid nature loss, species extinction and wildfire,” said Lydia Weiss, Senior Director of Government Relations.

“We are particularly pleased with the inclusion of the Roadless Area Conservation Act, which would protect nearly 60 million acres of treasured national forest from harmful human development. Our roadless forests, like the Tongass National Forest, provide irreplaceable sources of wildlife habitat, carbon storage, public health benefits and recreation. If we are to make any headway at all in mitigating the climate crisis, we need to start by keeping our roadless forests intact and equipping agencies with the resources to strengthen affected communities. We are calling for the Senate to take swift action on this legislation.” 

In 2021, a study from Wilderness Society scientists found that roadless forest areas are disproportionately important as habitat for threatened wildlife; of all the “species of conservation concern” considered in the report—including woodland caribou, brown bear and numerous salamander species—57 percent have suitable habitat in roadless areas. Virtually all of these forest sections’ total “roadless” land area contains suitable habitat for at least one of those species. 

Furthermore, data shows that the majority of wildfires in the National Forest System start within 250 meters of a road; therefore, roadless areas are important in limiting wildfire ignitions in National Forests. 

Friday’s vote marks the first time the House has passed the RACA provisions. Protecting our roadless forests is a critical step toward the goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by the year 2030, which experts say is a key step for averting the worst of the climate and extinction crises.

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For media inquiries, please contact Jen Parravani at jen_parravani@tws.org