Protect our Forests from Roads

I know the effects firsthand, as does the majority of the People of the United States and most likely you who are reading this comment as well, of removing forested or ecologically significant regions (wetlands, riparian, desert, coastal, prairie, savannah).

It has significantly increased the summer temperatures and the number of extreme weather events, putting a significant strain on the utility grid – of which is struggling to keep places livable because of the poor leadership and improper budgetary distributions to support a variety of energy systems.

Paving over forests has allowed mass water runoff carrying silt, agricultural pollutants, and industrial chemicals over land and rivers that poison our drinking water and agricultural systems, until it reaches the oceans where large scale algal blooms eliminate the coastal flora and fauna.

It has decimated bird, animal, and insect populations - all fauna necessary for ecological services that cannot be "monetarily quantified" for the capitalistic system that dominates our decision making processes, but are unequivocally and critically important for humans survival on this Earth, but more to the point, in the United States.

With the unmanageably dramatic weather conditions, the deadly workforce layoff in the ecological services sector, and the boastful amount of toxins in our lands, waters, and air – removing forested land has proven to have a negative impact on the livability of the People of the United States.

An excerpt from my public comment opposing the revoking the roadless rule in 2025 (edited)

Despite the overwhelming public comments opposing the rescinding of the Roadless Rule to maintain forests, the collection of papers to repeal lay on the historical White House Desk before a corrupt and unqualified man of a certain age. The complicit USDA led by a mouthpiece Brooke Rollins -- aided and abetted by DOGE systematically removing employees and usurping their funding -- will complete their Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the damage of removing forests this month. The ensuing public comment period will be posted on the Forest Service website, the Federal Register, and Regulations.gov.

Before despair further binds our actions and silences our voices, recall that our evolutionary line gifted us critical thinking and problem solving skills. We specialize in coming together to make changes that benefit our current existence, and the future generations of all life (as stewards, not owners). In 2001, hundreds of public meetings were held throughout the United States, all to provide perspective, solutions, and concerns to conceive a meaningful and informed Roadless Rule. Find a local environmental group to get more information and participate in the discourse. Additionally, become a vocal constituent to the local city councils – use the municipal or community halls to educate the risks involved with repealing the Roadless Rule, to discuss options to revise/improve the 2001 ruling to better fit the current circumstances, and to collect thoughtful solutions as a unified city against the destruction of forests and land for the billionaires ever growing pocketbook.

And if capitalistic requirements restrain personal time and freedom, ask the kids and teens, who want to help enact solutions but feel even more hampered by age. Enlisting the youth to build connections with the local city councils provides experience in how our political systems work (as well as the corruption that takes root), and allows the future generations to combat potential corruption and more importantly instills agency to create systemic changes that will be better for all. This gives them hope, freedom, and choice – all things parents want their kids to have, so why not support them? As boomers, genXers, millennials it is time to retire “political illiteracy” (as we have started to do with financial illiteracy), and practice being the constituent that our current politicians have always feared. Let us be a model for the future generations.

Share these meetings with other cities/states. Post the solutions with bold fonts, and loud colors. Submit the collective resolution into the Federal Register, and those local Forest Service Officials (since they will become the “stewards” if the rule revocation is approved as is).

Additional Resources:

New Research Scrutinizes Trump’s Forestry Plans Emily Denny February 17, 2026

Roadless Areas of National Forests Could Go Away Under Proposed Rule Change Jack Igelman February 25, 2026

Trump’s Repeal of National Forest Logging Limits Advances Marc Heller March 3, 2026

Rescinding “Roadless Rule” Threatens Oregon’s Public Lands Ellen Clark March 11, 2026

The Forest Service Wants More Roads to Fight Fires, but Research Shows that Roads Lead to More Fires Murphy Woodhouse March 11, 2026

Montanans Host Public Meetings as Debate Grows Over Proposed Repeal of Roadless Rule Sadie Rison March 11, 2026