USDA Rescinds Near Quarter Century Old Protections for 58.5 Million Acres of National Forest Lands
Reversal ignores two decades of public input, jeopardizing wildlife, water, and wildfire resilience across America and in our largest intact temperate rainforest.
MISSOULA, Mont.—Backcountry Hunters & Anglers strongly opposes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recent decision to roll back the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule—removing long-standing protections for 58.5 million acres of national forest lands across 39 states. For 24 years, the Roadless Rule has provided bedrock safeguards some of America’s most remote and ecologically valuable public lands from roadbuilding and development. Removing these protections not only directly contradicts decades of public input—it threatens the very character of the backcountry.
“The Roadless Rule was never about closing roads or locking people out,” said Kaden McArthur, BHA’s Director of Policy and Government Relations. “It allows for exceptional backcountry recreation and includes exceptions for access to inholdings, mineral leases, and timber projects that reduce fire risk or benefit wildlife habitat. But let’s be clear: our national forests already have twice as many miles of roads as the entire U.S. National Highway System. Repealing the Roadless Rule isn’t about improving forest management—it’s about expanding a development network that threatens intact landscapes hunters, anglers, and wildlife can’t afford to lose.”
A Public Process Undermined
Developed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the Roadless Rule was finalized after 600 local public hearings were held and direct input was received from more than 1.6 million Americans, with 95% in support.
In 2020, the Trump administration repealed protections for more than 9 million acres of the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, despite 96 percent of public comments being in opposition. At the time, more than 1,000 BHA members and supporters delivered comments, urging the USFS to reinstate previous protections that ensured the backcountry character, and fish and wildlife habitat, of our nation’s largest intact temperate rainforest remained intact. In 2023, BHA applauded the reinstatement of those protections by the USFS.
Increased Risk of Wildfires
Contrary to claims made by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, a 32-year analysis of wildfire data across national forests—and analyzed by The Wilderness Society—shows that wildfires ignite three to four times more frequently within just 50 meters of roads compared to roadless and designated wilderness areas. Nearly 85% of wildfires are human caused, and 90% of wildfires start within half a mile of a road – repealing the Roadless Rule will only increase fire risk on our public lands. Importantly, fire management activities are currently allowed in Roadless Areas
Roadless Area Conservation Act, Reintroduced
That’s why BHA strongly supports the reintroduction of the Roadless Area Conservation Act, led by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Representative Andrea Salinas (D-OR). This legislation would codify the Roadless Rule into law, ensuring that protections for our most rugged and remote national forest lands can’t be undone by administrative rollbacks now and in the future.
To learn more, and to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act, visit backcountryhunters.org.
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America’s outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. To learn more about issues important to BHA’s membership, visit https://www.backcountryhunters.org/our_issues.
