September 22, 2025 2:50 a.m.

Late last week, the American Forest Resource Council and California the Forestry Association submitted formal comments to the U.S. Forest Service in support of rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

The two associations, representing forest products manufacturers and forest land stewards across the West, say the nationwide, top-down rule has hindered science-based forest management on federal lands at a time when wildfire threats, drought and insect outbreaks are growing more severe.

An AFRC release said the Roadless Rule prohibits or restricts access and active management on nearly 59 million acres of National Forest System lands, including many landscapes in the West most at risk of catastrophic wildfire and insect mortality. In their comments, AFRC and Calforests write that the rule is outdated, duplicative and scientifically unjustified.

AFRC President and CEO Travis Joseph said, “Rescinding the Roadless Rule will not undermine the Northwest Forest Plan or environmental safeguards. It simply restores flexibility for local forest professionals to consider limited road access where necessary for science-based restoration or emergency response”. Joseph said, “That’s essential in these federally-owned forests where treatment options are shrinking while wildfire risks are growing”.

The release said the organizations urged the Forest Service to ensure its Environmental Impact Statement reflects the best available science and input from stakeholders who depend on healthy, accessible public lands for their livelihoods, safety, and stewardship work”