Green Climate: Protecting Our Forests & Wilderness

The Department of Agriculture and the National Forest Service formally proposed the repeal of the Roadless Rule on October 18, 2026. The Roadless Rule was promulgated in 2001 and created a special level of protection for 45 million acres of national forest land by designating them as Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRA). The repeal of the Roadless Rule will do more than just strike a section of the Code of Federal Regulations, it will eliminate the IRA designation for these 45 million acres. Without the IRA designation roads can be built through these areas with little environmental review.  The Repeal is being characterized as having little or no impact until new roads are proposed, permitted, and built. That is simply untrue, because without the IRA designations there is no land management plan category that strictly prohibits new roads. This action ignores the millions of miles of existing roads through national forests that are not being maintained. NFS has very little money budgeted for maintenance of these roads. Yet, the Administration is taking this drastic action. 

   One size does not fill all. Over 95% of the IRAs are in the Western Region where they are stretched across huge areas of lands. In the Eastern Region, the acreage of IRAs is much smaller (1.5-2.5 million acres versus 45 million acres in the west). Existing roads are much closer, and in some cases, already cross IRAs. Very few new roads are justified because of the cost is likely $1mm per mile. The extensive network of roads through eastern national forest land mitigates the Proposed Rule’s expressed justification that it will improve wildfire response and prevention. In Eastern Region IRAs, the terrain varies greatly as do the potential impacts which include impairment of water quality for animals and drinking water, extreme biodiversity, and fragility of the forests to erosion and other unique challenges. The IRAs also drive significant revenue, especially, in the George Washington National Forest and the Jefferson National Forests (see attached). All of these unique factors must be included in the EIS and OMB’s analysis of the Proposed Rule. 
The Virginia Wilderness Committee is the lead on the opposition of the RRR here in the Commonwealth. Here is VWC's press release and a radio interview.
https://www.vawilderness.org/news/press-release-on-roadless-repeal
https://www.wmra.org/2026-08-21/usda-solicits-public-comments-on-proposed-roadless-rule-rescission

VWC captures the wildfire issue and impacts on George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Forest.

8/19/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 19, 2026
FROM: Virginia Wilderness Committee
 

Rollback of federal rule threatens Virginia waters, wildlife, nature, and recreation
 

CONTACT:
Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, Executive Director
estuarthaentjens@vawilderness.org, 804-814-8927
 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins announced yesterday that, despite strong public opposition, the U.S. Forest Service plans to rescind the long-standing Roadless Rule, which has protected more than 45 million acres of undeveloped national forest lands for 25 years. 
 

The agency characterized the rollback as a wildfire-prevention measure, even though the Roadless Rule already allows fuel reduction, small tree thinning, and other wildfire-prevention management work. In Appalachia, more than 80 percent of wildfires are human caused; nationwide, 90 percent of wildfire ignitions occur within half a mile of roads. From 1992 to 2024, wildfires were four times as likely to start in roaded areas than in roadless forest tracts. Given that evidence, the claim that building more roads in forests would reduce wildfire risk is misleading–so much so that wildland firefighters across the country have opposed repealing the Roadless Rule. 
 

In Virginia, the repeal would affect 84 percent of the roughly 394,000 acres on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests currently protected by the Roadless Rule– the largest share of any Eastern state. 
 

Since 2001, roadless areas in Virginia and across the country have been recognized as some of the last wild national forest lands not already protected as congressionally designated Wilderness. By remaining closed to roadbuilding, mining, commercial logging and other development allowed elsewhere in national forests, these areas help protect drinking water, provide essential habitat for wildlife and native plants, and support sustainable economic benefits for rural communities. 
 

Statement from the Virginia Wilderness Committee’s Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens:
 

“These landscapes quietly perform some of the most important environmental services Virginians rely on every day – most importantly, they provide clean drinking water. The clear mountain streams that rise in our roadless areas flow into the James, Potomac, and Shenandoah rivers that help sustain communities and our natural heritage all the way to the Chesapeake Bay.”
 

“If we cut roads into these areas and allow for mining, commercial logging and other development, we trade long-term clean water security for short-term extraction. Not a good deal for Virginians.”
 

“Generations of hunters, hikers, anglers, birders and other outdoor enthusiasts have treasured roadless areas for their beauty, healthy forests, and ample wildlife. These places are on public land and belong to all of us; we cannot allow them to be offered up to the highest bidder who would squander our children’s future enjoyment of some of nature’s finest wild places.” 

Fast Facts
 

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule passed in 2001, following years of scientific study, policy debate, and public review that included 1.6 million public comments, the most ever at the time, with the vast majority in favor of the rule.
 

National forest Roadless Areas in Virginia:

• Comprise about 22% of the total 1.8 million acres of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests combined
• 75% contain native brook trout watersheds
• Safeguard nearly 545 miles of rivers 
• Harbor 43 at-risk species 
• One quarter of the Appalachian Trail runs through Virginia, much of it through roadless areas when on the national forest 

Nationally:

• Roadless areas encompass 354 municipal watersheds that provide clean water for 60 million Americans in 3,400 communities
• Provide world-class outdoor recreational opportunities on 43,000 miles of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, climbers, birders, horseback riders, backpackers, hunters, anglers, and backcountry skiers
• Generate a significant portion of the outdoor recreation industry’s $730 billion in annual revenue and 6.5 million jobs
• Provide habitat for more than 1,600 threatened or endangered plant and animal species

                                                                                          #
 

Organized in 1969, the Virginia Wilderness Committee (VWC) works to permanently protect the best of Virginia's wild places for future generations, foster understanding and appreciation of Wilderness, and promote enjoyment and stewardship of our last remaining wildlands. The Virginia Wilderness Committee is a 501(C)3 non-profit citizens' group. 

At this point, the deadline for comments is September 21, 2026. Petitions are being filed to extend the comment deadline which is justified given the importance and complexity of the rule. The draft Environmental Impact Statement is almost 900. We are preparing a draft of comments from the group and an outline for the members.