Policy Corner: Protect America's Roadless Forests!
October 2, 2026
On August 29, USDA published a notice of intent to eliminate the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule – the Roadless Rule, jeopardizing protections for 45 million acres of America's wildest forests, about a third of our national forests. Throughout Mendocino National Forest, 154,332 acres of Roadless Areas would lose protection, including nearly 30,000 acres within Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument.
What's at Stake
- These forests have only remained intact because of the 25-year commitment not to build roads and open these special areas to industry.
- Roadless areas provide clean drinking water to 60 million Americans.
- These forests store 20% of all carbon in U.S. national forests.
- The outdoor recreation economy generates $730 billion annually.
- Roadless areas are critical habitat for 1,600+ threatened species.
- We already have 370,000 miles of roads in forests with a multi-billion dollar maintenance backlog.
- Studies show wildfire ignitions are 4 times more likely near roads than in roadless areas.
We Have Until September 21st to Save America’s Roadless Forests
This our opportunity to inform USDA that we are opposed to rolling back the Roadless Rule. Our goal is one million comments in support of the Roadless Rule
What Can You Do?
Submit Comments Supporting the Roadless Rule Directly to USDA or Click Here to Sign on to Tuleyome’s letter
Our goal is to get 1,000,000 comments into USDA in support of the Roadless Rule!
Information on How to Submit Public Comments for USDA Roadless Rule
Step 1: Think about what types of comments you want to share with USDA. Here are some suggestions on what makes a good comment:
- Be specific about what roadless lands matter to you and why, whether for water, wildlife, recreation, wild fire prevention, cultural sites or old growth trees.
- Show how you will be personally harmed if these protections are removed. That harm can be direct, like losing access to a favorite place, or it can be health-related.
- Road-building and logging increase smoke, dust and polluted runoff that affect human health.
- Point to consequences, since roads lead to the removal of trees, severing connected wilderness corridors, erosion and higher fire risk.
- Call out contradictions such as:
- Forest service promises conservation while encouraging logging
- USDA states the Roadless Rule hinders wildfire management but more roads actually increase the likelihood of fire ignition points
- Feel free to borrow ideas from others or sample letters while maintaining your own voice, this is your opportunity to contribute and speak truth to power.
- Include your full name and address.
Step 2: Go to the Regulations.gov site. This is the official federal government website to submit comments.
Step 3: Copy and paste or upload your comments as a PDF.
Step 4: Scroll to the bottom of the page, verify that you’re not a robot and hit submit.
Consider keeping a copy of your comments for your record. As a reminder the comment period ends on September 21st.
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