Written by Josie Hammond and Liv Adao
Good evening fellow Tree huggers! Happy Mary Oliver Monday, we are wishing yall a fantastic week. Today we are going to be talking about the Roadless Rule. But first some wisdom from our goat Mary Oliver.
Mary Oliver motivates us to understand the power of our actions and the need to fight for what we believe in. We cannot simply let our passion go to waste. “Be ignited” and go out into the world, taking action whenever you can. Always remember that any cause is worthy of fighting for. We encourage you to keep this poem and message in mind while reading this.
Before getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s get some backstory on the Roadless Rule. The Roadless Rule was passed in 2001 during the Bush administration. This law has been known as one of the most significant protections of our nation’s forests since President Theodore Roosevelt. Since the Roadless Rule was established, it has protected more than 58.2 million acres of wilderness areas in the US. Not only does this law protect 30% of all national forest lands, but it also keeps these areas safe from roadway development and logging, which would have significant impacts on the management, ecosystems, and usage of these spaces. In June of 2025, the current US Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, announced plans to repeal the Roadless Rule and protections for these millions of acres of wilderness. BUT, we have some devastating news. This June, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the intent to rescind the Roadless Rule. Dun dun DUNNNNNN. Now you may be asking why anyone would want to do that? Secretary Rollins’ platform is built largely on the idea that building roadways would mitigate wildfire and wildfire risk and stimulate the timber industry. However, there is evidently not much evidence to support that these claims are valid. A study done by The Wilderness Society found that between 1992 and 2004, wildfires were actually 4 times more likely to start in areas with roads than without, and that 90% of all wildfires in the US have started within half a mile of a road. Additionally, 90% of all wood and paper products in the US are harvested on private lands to begin with, so under the current Roadless Rule, USFS land can still be logged. The Forest Service employs professional foresters to make logging plans that are in line with goals outlined by National Forest Management plans. This plan is part of the Trump Administration’s agenda to dismantle environmental protection and policies. This is not the first and certainly not the last effort we will have to fight.
Now, if this repeal is successful, how would this personally affect you? Rescinding the roadless rule creates the possibility for new road construction and logging on millions of acres of public lands. This means that 8,659 climbing routes, 768 miles of whitewater paddling, and 25,121 miles of trails would be left unprotected. On top of that, many popular backcountry ski areas are in danger; areas in Alaska, Utah, Oregon, California, Nevada, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, and even parts of the East Coast would be dramatically affected. So, in short, yes, this would directly affect you. This poses a major threat to the outdoor community and anyone who enjoys outdoor experiences. It is a gift to be able to recreate on these lands and explore the beauty this earth has to offer, yet this plan would take away that treasure, completely undermining the shared legacy of America’s public lands.
If all of this scares you, you are not alone, we are scared too. But do not lose hope. There are things we all can do. The US Department of Agriculture is accepting public comments on the possible repeal of the Roadless Rule until September 19, 2025. After this comment period is over, USDA will draft an Environmental Impact Statement, which is expected to be finalized by March of 2026. Your homework tonight is to take action on this while you can! Always remember that you do have an impact on this world no matter how small it may feel.
This link will allow you to make a comment to your state representatives.
Roadless Rule petition
Goodnight Tree huggers, until next time!
Speak for the Trees 
One response to “Nature doesn’t need lanes”
After recently spending two weeks in one of the places specifically outlined as an area protected by the Roadless Rule, imagining it being developed for roads and lumber sounds quite literally like a nightmare. I think that before politicians are able to rescind rules such as this one, they should spend time in each and every area to fully understand the destruction of natural wonders and beauty that would be on their hands.
Places like the ones being protected by the Roadless Rule don’t just contain immense beauty, but they are also the playground and area for many people like myself to do what they love and be connected to nature on such an immediate level that is impossible to achieve in any other way. If the United States and the world continue to take massive steps backwards in conservation, we will lose touch with ourselves and the world that surrounds us.
Thank you for writing this article! It is another certified awesomesauce read. I already completed my homework assigned by you and Ms. Oliver and sent a message to my senators. This week’s Mary Oliver Poem is right — if you believe in something, you need to act on it. I believe in keeping nature wild, conserving its beauty, and using it as a vessel to connect with yourself and others on a completely different level. Thank you for adding the link as well because I honestly wasn’t sure how to do it in the first place. Keep sending out messages like these ones, every article written and read has the potential to create change in this uphill battle.
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