Friday, October 3, 2025
The American Forest Resource Council (AFRC) and the California Forestry Association (Calforests) have jointly submitted formal comments urging the U.S. Forest Service to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Representing forest products manufacturers and stewards of forestlands across the Western U.S., both organizations argue that the outdated rule is obstructing science-based forest management at a time of growing threats from wildfires, drought, and insect infestations.
Originally adopted more than two decades ago, the Roadless Rule restricts road construction and active forest management on approximately 59 million acres of National Forest System lands. Many of these areas are located in Western states, where wildfire hazard and insect mortality risks are at historic highs.
In their comments, AFRC and Calforests state that the rule is “outdated, duplicative, and scientifically unjustified.” The restrictions, they argue, no longer reflect the urgent conditions affecting today’s forest ecosystems or the need for rapid response in emergency situations.
“The Roadless Rule is based on the false notion that doing nothing is the best way to protect our forests,” said AFRC President Travis Joseph. “This passive management paradigm has failed our landscapes and our communities, contributing to millions of acres of wildfire and forest loss across the West.”
Short sentences drive the point home. Many wildfires could have been reduced. Management has been blocked. Communities have suffered. Forest health has declined.
The data support this concern. Nearly 50% of all Inventoried Roadless Areas are now rated as high or very high wildfire hazard potential. Since the Rule was implemented, more than 8 million acres of these lands have burned. In many of those areas, local forest managers lacked the flexibility to carry out vital thinning, fuels treatment, or restoration work because of the Roadless Rule’s restrictions on road access.
Access matters. Firefighting crews need roads. Without them, emergency response times increase. Property and lives remain at risk. AFRC and Calforests stress that science-based forest management must include responsible access planning.
The joint comments further explain that rescinding the Roadless Rule would not eliminate existing environmental protections. Key laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Clean Water Act (CWA) remain in full effect. Furthermore, existing site-specific forest plans, including the Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), continue to guide management practices on federal lands.
The Northwest Forest Plan covers 19.7 million acres across Oregon, Washington, and Northern California. It predates the Roadless Rule and already limits management activities through zones like Late-Successional Reserves and Riparian Reserves, which prioritize conservation over commercial harvest.
“Rescinding the Roadless Rule will not undermine the NWFP or environmental safeguards,” said Joseph. “It simply restores flexibility for local forest professionals to consider limited road access where necessary for science-based restoration or emergency response. That’s essential in these federally-owned forests where treatment options are shrinking while wildfire risks are growing.”
Within the NWFP area, only 20–25% of federal lands are currently available for timber harvesting — and those are subject to strict environmental review. The addition of the Roadless Rule in 2001 layered on further restrictions, even in areas already designated for limited use, compounding the challenge of restoring forest health.
According to AFRC and Calforests, modern forest management demands proactive strategies. Forest density must be reduced. Wildlife habitats need improvement. And forests must be made more resilient to drought, beetle outbreaks, and high-severity fires.
The organizations also highlighted the potential economic and social benefits of repealing the Roadless Rule. Doing so would support rural economies, bolster domestic wood product manufacturing, and protect family-wage jobs in timber communities. It would also allow forest professionals to act quickly in high-risk areas to prevent future megafires.
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Tags: AFRC, Calforests, forest fire resilience, forest restoration, timber industry policy, wildfire risk management, woodworking industry
