The Trump administration is reportedly planning to remove Roadless Rule protections from 45 million acres of undeveloped public lands, potentially opening them to logging, drilling, mining, and road-building. This move, according to the Sierra Club, threatens some of the nation's last intact forest ecosystems.
The proposed changes could impact national forests such as the Tongass in Alaska, the Olympic in Washington State, the Gila in New Mexico, and the White Mountain in New Hampshire. Environmental advocates warn that road construction would facilitate industrial activities, leading to habitat fragmentation and loss for wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and migratory birds.
The Sierra Club is actively leading efforts to defend these roadless areas, mobilizing supporters nationwide to protect public lands. The organization emphasizes that such proposals could transform areas currently used for hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting into industrial zones.