U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich from New Mexico voices opposition to the regulation change concerning Roadless Areas.
In the heart of New Mexico, a contentious debate is unfolding over the potential repeal of the Roadless Rule, a Clinton-era regulation that has protected millions of acres of federally owned forests since 2001. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, has announced its intention to repeal the rule, a move that some, like the Republican Party of New Mexico Chair, Amy Barela, believe is long overdue.
The Roadless Rule prohibits building new roads, rebuilding others, or harvesting timber in large swathes of national forest land. Its repeal could open up approximately 1.6 million acres of inventoried roadless areas across more than 9.3 million acres of national forest lands in New Mexico. Supporters argue that this could boost American timber production and energy development, aligning with President Trump's executive actions.
However, opponents, including Sen. Martin Heinrich, fear that the repeal could increase the risk of wildfires by allowing vehicles into more remote areas and disrupting wildlife habitats. Zander Evans, executive director of the Forest Stewards Guild, shares this concern, expressing doubt about the benefits of more roads in fire prevention.
The Forest Stewards Guild has been actively involved in tree thinning projects in the roadless areas of New Mexico, including those around the Santa Fe watershed east of the city. The Santa Fe River headwaters, a source of drinking water for the city, are located in the area protected by these projects.
Not everyone is convinced that more roads would help prevent fires in New Mexico. The Forest Service, which has changed its approach to wildfire management in recent decades to include more prescribed burns, already employs thinning and prescribed burns in roadless areas to protect from wildfires. In fact, ninety-five percent of human-caused fires begin within a half mile of a road.
The Forest Service Chief, Tom Schultz, believes that repealing the rule will return land management to local experts. However, the specific organization to which Schultz belongs or his position on road bans and wood collection for national forest land remains unclear.
The public comment period on the roadless rule opened at the end of August, and the deadline for submissions has not been provided. Projects to protect the Santa Fe watershed from wildfire have sometimes been complicated due to community opposition to cutting down trees, not accessing the forests.
As the debate continues, it's clear that the potential repeal of the Roadless Rule is a complex issue with significant implications for New Mexico's forests, water sources, and wildlife.
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