COLVILLE, Wash. – The Trump administration is moving to rescind the federal Roadless Rule, potentially opening Washington state forests to increased logging and road construction after more than two decades of protection.
The rule, established in 2001, protects roadless areas within national forests from commercial logging and new road construction. Its potential repeal has raised concerns among conservationists about Washington’s public lands, including the Colville National Forest.
“Roadless areas, no matter where they’re found, have a lot of value to communities and recreationists,” said John Robison, public lands director for the Idaho Conservation League.
Unlike Washington, Idaho operates under its own roadless regulations since 2006, meaning the state’s forests would remain protected even if the federal rule is repealed.
Conservationists argue that removing federal protections could harm Washington’s forests and surrounding communities, citing concerns about clean water and wildlife habitat.
Critics of the current rule say it can interfere with active forest management and wildfire prevention efforts. However, conservationists believe protecting public lands for recreation and wildlife habitat remains equally important.
“Coming together in the past we’ve recognized the value of inventory roadless areas. We think that any removal of these rules would be a big step backwards for our forests and our communities that depend on them,” Robison said.
The potential policy change highlights the ongoing national debate over how to manage America’s public forest lands.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
