Document Actions
Oregon Roadless Petition, Governor Kulongoski, scientific assessment of roadless areas in Oregon, Roadless Area Conservation Rule
Conservation Policy Initiative
PROTECTING ROADLESS AREAS
Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated the conservation importance of roadless areas as sancturaries for wildlife and a source of clean drinking water supplies. Conversely, road building creates chronic erosion problems and encourages further development, such as logging and mining, of pristine wild lands. Across the nation, more than 400,000 miles of roads criss-cross national forests, enough to circumnavigate the globe more than 16 times. Cumulatively, roads represent a major disturbance factor to wildlife. In addition, roaded areas tend to experience a higher incidence of ignitions of wildland fires due to increased human access.
Once a roadless area has been developed, Congress can no longer consider that area for Wilderness Protection. Therefore, protecting roadless areas is a very high priority for the National Center.
Over 58 million acres of public lands have been inventoried by the U.S. Forest Service as "Roadless," where roadbuilding and resource extraction is restricted by the Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2001. Prior to enacting this rule, the Clinton Administration implemented a three-year process that coordinated over 600 public forums around the country and generated over 1.6 million comments - the vast majority in favor of strong protections for America's roadless areas.
In May 2003, the Bush Administration rescinded the rule and put in place an uncertain policy whereby state governors have to petition the Forest Service for possible protection of roadless areas in their states. The 2001 roadless rule, however, was recently reinstated by a district court in California in 2006; however, some areas were exempt and some states have gone forth with strong or weak petitions under a separate ruling (Administrative Procedures Act). Thus, although reinstated by the courts, implementation of the roadless conservation rule remains at risk and long-term prospects may best be served by congressional legislation.
Some of the most important roadless areas in the nation occur on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. Unfortunately, America's temperate rainforests, and some of the most intact forests in the world, were exempted from roadless protections and recent court rulings.
The National Center for Conservation Science & Policy along with the Conservation Biology Institute and Oregon Wild completed a comprehensive assessment of the importance of Oregon's roadless areas that was submitted to Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski to support the governor's strong leadership on roadless protections. This was the first such state-wide assessment published for Oregon and was based on a broad suite of biodiversity indicators, including watershed integrity, fish and wildlife habitat, locations of rare, threatened and endangered species, old-growth forests and recreational values.
Photos by Kevin Shafer.
