The June 25 news story, “Local forest land falls under ‘reckless’ Trump proposals for development,” brings up the importance of understanding the impact a repeal of the 2001 Roadless Rule would have on Lane County’s neighboring national forests.

The 2001 Roadless Rule protects undeveloped natural areas, much of which are more than 200 years old, or mature forests. The rule classified around 12.5% of Oregon’s National Forest System Lands as roadless areas (3% of Oregon’s total land area). Near Lane County, 5.4% of the Siuslaw National Forest and 5.1% of the Willamette National Forest are protected under the rule (less than 0.2% of Oregon’s total land area, combined).

Repealing the 2001 Roadless Rule leaves protected forest land vulnerable to logging and other developments. It is entirely unnecessary to subject historic natural areas to further destruction. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 38.6% of Oregon’s total land area is timberland available for logging efforts.

Ending protection of roadless areas to increase timberland by only 3%, would mean the eradication of Oregon’s remaining old-growth forests. We in Lane County, must stand up to attacks on our dwindling old-growth and mature forests to preserve the health of Oregon’s environment and residents.

Sala Grady
Eugene