Plans to roll back roadless rule threatens a New England forest

The federal Roadless Area Conservation Rule has been in place since 2001, but is under threat. In August, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced her agency’s plans to rescind the rule “in its entirety.” The roadless rule currently prohibits road construction, logging and mining on about 30% of the nearly 200 million acres of land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The rule mostly applies to forested areas of the West, but a unique area in the White Mountains along the border of Maine and New Hampshire could have its landscape changed. In Episode 50, Maine Morning Star reporter Kaitlyn Budion discusses the concerns of New England conservationists who think the rollback of the roadless rule would hurt one of the few unbroken stretches of wilderness in New England.  You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer, Danielle Gaines and Daybreak newsletter writer Madyson Fitzgerald. They’ve got you covered with the latest on: North Dakota’s stripping wells, candidate debates and early voting trends. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Unique stretch of New England forest under threat after proposed rollback of roadless rule (Maine Morning Star) ‘Quiet loud nature’: New Mexico opponents of Roadless Rule repeal describe fear of lost solitude (Source NM) Conservationists want Congress to do more to protect New England’s roadless areas (New Hampshire Bulletin) Trump administration plan could bring new roads to pristine woods covering 4% of Wyoming (WyoFile) U.S. Department of Agriculture Proposes Eliminating the Roadless Rule (Pew Charitable Trusts) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected] Photo: Jeff Swayze, a mental health counselor and registered New Hampshire guide, stands in a stream bed along the Wheeler Brook trail in Maine. The area is currently protected from development by the federal roadless rule. (Photo by Kaitlyn Budion/Maine Morning Star)