The Roadless Rule: A Success Undermined by Wrongdoing

The image above depicts the Tongass National Forest near Ketchikan, Alaska. The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States, covering 16.7 million acres in Southeast Alaska. It is the largest intact temperate rainforest in the world and is home to diverse wildlife, including bears and salmon, along with ancient forests and thousands of miles of coastline and fjords. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the forest is a popular destination for recreation, offering wilderness areas, bear viewing opportunities, hiking, and a chance to experience unique ecosystems. However, much of this pristine wilderness is at risk of being significantly harmed. Paving roads, cutting down millions of trees, and allowing mining waste to seep into waterways will devastate the land, and gas and oil production will further disrupt the ecosystem. Not to worry, though; Trump’s Project 2025 fits into this scheme like a missing puzzle piece.

One of America’s most successful conservation initiatives had been the Roadless Rule

Henry Clement, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, August 2023.

By Henry Clement

The Roadless Rule protected over 58 million acres of undeveloped national forests. Unfortunately, the Trump administration rescinded this rule.

By overturning the Roadless Rule, Trump was able to claim that he got revenge for the Biden Administration’s efforts to protect it after his initial attempt to dismantle what many consider one of America’s “best ideas ever.”

Rescission Timeline

The Roadless Rule was formally rescinded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in June 2025, following a public comment period that began in late August 2025. This rescission opens previously protected areas in national forests to roadbuilding, timber production, development, and mineral extraction.

Who Will Be Affected?

The negative impacts of this action will be felt by a wide variety of groups, including hunters, fishers, mountain bikers, campers, hikers, bird watchers, environmentalists, scientists, canoeists, mountain climbers, and local businesses that support outdoor activities. All of these stakeholders are understandably frustrated by the rescission of the Roadless Rule.

A Commitment to Chaos and Division

The Trump administration took decisive steps to rescind the Roadless Rule, widely regarded as one of America’s premier conservation measures. His effort seems to follow guidance from Project 2025, a platform supported by the Heritage Foundation and other groups with controversial agendas.

The award-winning watercolor artist Thom Glace illustrated male coho salmon in their spawning colors. The Tongass National Forest is home to all five species of Pacific salmon: King, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum. This unique characteristic makes the Tongass the only place in the world that supports all five species, earning it the nickname “America’s Salmon Forest.” Trump’s ending the protection of this magnificent wilderness diminishes our nation significantly.

Claiming that the Roadless Rule “hampered American businesses” is yet another misleading assertion from Trump

“The $1.2 trillion outdoor economy depends on intact landscapes that are protected from industrial development, including road development, mining, and timber harvesting. Rolling back the Roadless Rule jeopardizes access to recreational activities. These activities are crucial for the local economy. We aim to collaborate with the Forest Service in a cooperative and transparent manner that takes into account the input of the business community alongside the best available science. Businesses, along with the public, overwhelmingly support the Roadless Rule because it fosters long-term sustainability for both economies and forests.”— Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of the Conservation Alliance.

Empowering the Public

The Conservation Alliance unites businesses from various industries to protect outdoor spaces and wild places. We promote a proactive agenda that relies on strategic advocacy and grantmaking, leveraging businesses’ influence while building strong partnerships with grassroots organizations and local communities. Our goal is to achieve impactful conservation outcomes that safeguard North America’s outdoor spaces for everyone.

Since 1989, we have awarded $34.5 million in grants, helped protect over 125 million acres of land, preserved 4,964 river miles, removed or halted 43 dams, purchased 22 climbing areas, and designated five marine reserves and one national marine sanctuary.