U.S. Senator from New Mexico, Martin Heinrich, opposes the reversal of the Roadless Rule
In a dramatic turn of events, the US Department of Agriculture has announced its intention to repeal the roadless rule, a Clinton-era regulation that has been in place for over two decades. The decision reflects the department's commitment to President Trump's executive actions to expand American timber production and unleash American energy.
The roadless rule prohibits building new roads, rebuilding others, or harvesting timber in large swaths of federally owned forests. Opponents of the repeal, such as Sen. Martin Heinrich, believe it could raise the risk of wildfires by allowing vehicles into more remote areas and disrupt wildlife habitats.
New Mexico, with its vast forests and unique ecosystems, is at the heart of this debate. The state has approximately 1.6 million acres of inventoried roadless areas across more than 9.3 million acres of national forest lands.
Amy Barela, the Republican Party of New Mexico Chair, has been vocal about her views on the roadless rule. She stated that the rule has been "overused and abused for years" and that in New Mexico, it has allowed forests to grow dangerously overstocked and poorly managed.
On the other hand, Zander Evans, executive director of the nonprofit Forest Stewards Guild, expressed doubt about the benefits of more roads in preventing fires in New Mexico. Evans believes that New Mexico forests are overcrowded, in part because of a history of aggressive fire suppression instead of regular burning.
The Forest Service, under the leadership of Chief Tom Schultz, has changed its approach to wildfire management in recent decades to include more prescribed burns. Evans mentioned that thinning and prescribed burns already happen in New Mexico's roadless areas. According to researchers, studying tree rings can go back in time and see how often fires used to burn in New Mexico forests, with Ponderosa pine forests burning every two to seven years, creating a fairly open forest.
The public hearing on lifting road and timber harvest bans on 45 million acres of national forest land is currently ongoing and is scheduled to end on September 30, 2025. The public comment period on the proposed repeal of the roadless rule opened at the end of August and closes on a date not specified in the text (Friday).
Evans stated that community opposition to cutting down trees was a complication in accomplishing some projects, not accessing the forests. He mentioned that roads are a key tool for managing forests, but he can't think of areas in New Mexico forests that would benefit from new roads.
The Santa Fe River headwaters, a source of drinking water for the city, are located in the area that the Forest Stewards Guild is protecting from wildfire. The Forest Service has worked with the city of Santa Fe and other partners around the Santa Fe watershed east of the city on tree thinning projects.
Sen. Martin Heinrich is advocating to keep a ban on building new roads or timber harvesting across 45 million acres of national forest land. He believes that the roadless rule is crucial for preserving New Mexico's forests and wildlife.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the future of New Mexico's forests is at stake. The public's voice will play a significant role in shaping this future, as the comment period remains open for those who wish to express their opinions.
Read also:
- Amidst India's escalating climate crisis, transgender individuals continue to persevere
- Contentious Discussion Surrounding the Movie Release of "Planet of the Humans"
- Germany's three-month tenure under Merz's administration feels significantly extended
- Norway set to allocate proceeds from sales of tickets for a soccer match against Israel to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
