The U.S. Forest Service plans to end the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which has limited road building and logging on millions of acres of national forest.
As a California logger, you might welcome this shift. The rule blocked active management on about 4 million acres of state forestland for 25 years. Removing it opens the door to mechanical thinning and fuel reduction, which help fight wildfires.
Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz issued a directive early in the Trump administration to speed up logging and fuel reduction projects. The goal: reduce barriers like lengthy environmental reviews.
Harvest levels have fallen or stalled for decades. Meanwhile, forests have grown denser, increasing tree death from disease and fire risk. Nearly 8 million acres of California national forest burned in the last 25 years, creating a crisis.
The Roadless Rule began under the Clinton administration. It restricted road construction and commercial logging on 60 million acres nationwide. In California, it covers 20% of national forestland, mostly outside designated wilderness areas.
Forests supply about 75% of California’s water and support agriculture. About 33% of the state is forested, with 60% of those acres on federal land. Timber functions as a crop, so active forest management affects water supply, wildfire risk, and economic health.
Public lands have many designations, from national parks to federal timberlands. Each comes with specific rules. The Roadless Rule created de facto wilderness areas without congressional approval, limiting management and access.
Roads and infrastructure have helped build the nation and remain vital for firefighting and forest health. Without them, managing fire and disease becomes harder.
Wildfire data shows a sharp rise after the Roadless Rule took effect. From 2000 to 2011, 10% of Forest Service land burned. From 2012 to 2021, 38% burned. Half of California’s federal forestland has burned in 25 years.
You face a choice. Keep half of the forest off-limits and risk more fire damage, or allow active management to protect watersheds and communities.
Local expertise and practical forestry can lead efforts to restore forest health. Restricting access and management hinders your ability to protect these lands and the resources Californians rely on.
