USDA Announces Plan to Rollback Roadless Area Conservation Rule
Breaking news! The Roadless Rule rollback announcement is happening this week! Make sure you are signed up for our emails and we will let you know when to act.
Some of the wildest, most pristine forest lands in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are under threat by the rollback of the 25-year-old Roadless Area Conservation Rule. Millions of acres of spectacular, undeveloped places are at risk of development. Join us to speak up for your favorite wild places and urge the USDA to keep the Roadless Rule.
The proposed rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule jeopardizes nearly 10 million acres of undeveloped backcountry forestland in Montana and Wyoming. These forests have remained intact because of the U.S. Forest Service's nearly 25-year commitment to protect these wild places from industrial development like large-scale commercial logging, oil-and-gas drilling, and associated road building.
These lands are the source of our drinking water, home to iconic wildlife, and the heart of our outdoor recreation heritage. Together, we can voice our support for the bipartisan and broadly supported Roadless Rule that protects the very lands that make the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem a global icon.
Don’t miss out; this week the USDA will open a very short comment window, and now is the time to make your voice heard. Our team is diving into the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that proposes a rollback of the Roadless Rule and will let you know our recommendation on how to comment as soon as we’ve reviewed all the documents.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition will also be hosting comment writing parties in communities around Greater Yellowstone at Postcards for Public Lands – write a public comment, enter a giveaway, and join your community in speaking up for your favorite wild places. All events are free and open to all – because together, we’re greater.
If you’d like to learn more and attend a local event, make sure you’re signed up to receive our emails. We’ll be in touch with more details soon!
Dates coming soon!
Why the Roadless Rule Matters
“There’s no feeling like catching a wild fish in a wild place like this. I can still remember my shaky hands as I watched it swim back into the cold depths of the alpine lake. Roadless Areas hold some of my most cherished memories—protecting them means everything to me.”
– London Bernier, Senior Communications Associate
“Some of my most cherished memories are from time spent in Roadless Areas. I’ll never forget the peace, joy, and gratitude I felt on this day in the Beartooth Roadless Area—napping in a quiet meadow of wildflowers next to my husband with our dog Lola in tow. I look forward to a future where I can share these special places with my 3 children.”
– Brooke Shifrin, Wildlife Program Manager
“We often hike in the Hyalite Roadless Area and I’m always grateful to for the change of perspective that seeing the ‘backsides’ of mountains brings.”
– Hali Camper, Development Associate
“In my corner of Wyoming, inventoried roadless areas represent the best remaining wildlife habitat. I feed my family from our local roadless areas - from fish and mushrooms to elk and grouse. They should remain protected.”
– Kurt Colhoff, Senior Climate and Water Conservation Associate
"Standing on top of Hoback Peak in the Wyoming Range, I could see miles and miles of forest, mountains, and rivers. I could hear birds flying overhead and see a herd of elk in the distance. This special moment, fully connected to the ecosystem, is possible because of the Roadless Rule, and it should be possible for generations to come."
– Grace Lemen, Idaho Conservation Organizer
“I spent a wonderful summer afternoon with GYC colleagues replacing signs on the Bridger Inventoried Roadless Area. This IRA, within a 10-minute drive to Bozeman, is well loved and well used. I get out to this amazing space as often as I can. One of the most memorable times was a hike with my dad and son—three generations huffing and puffing to get to the top of Baldy Mountain.”
– Sally Schrank, Montana Conservation Manager
“Some of my fondest memories have been made in southwest Montana’s roadless areas, including hiking and skiing off the Bridger Ridge on a sunny July afternoon. The Roadless Rule protects wild places on public lands that belong to all of us, and it’s up to all of us to keep it that way.”
– Julia Barton, Communications Associate