The US is stripping its forests of decades-old protections
1 min read
Summary
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it is rescinding a rule which prevented road construction and timber harvesting on around 59 million acres of national forest, the majority of which is in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest.
Conservation groups have accused the government of attempting an “industry-led land grab”, claiming the move will increase wildfire risk and destroy unspoiled forests.
The USDA argues that removing the rule, also known as the Roadless Rule implemented in 2001, will help manage wildfire-prone lands and boost timber production.
The scrapping of the rule may also lead to legal challenges, as the Biden administration indicated that it may review the decision when it takes office next year.
Following an executive order signed by President Trump in March, this latest decision forms part of the administration’s strategy to expand timber production.