The U.S. Forest Service is poised to reverse a 25-year-old policy protecting vast stretches of old-growth forests from development, a move critics say directly benefits a former timber industry lobbyist now leading the agency. The proposed repeal of the "roadless rule"—which safeguards roughly 45 million acres of national forest from logging, drilling, and roadbuilding—has been a long-standing priority for industry groups and Republican lawmakers. Research suggests the agency’s chief has ties to the timber sector through past lobbying work, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. If implemented, the change would open previously untouched wilderness to expanded commercial activity.
Rollback of ‘roadless rule’ expected to benefit companies US Forest Service chief, Tom Schultz, previously lobbied forDonald Trump this month announced plans to rescind a landmark rule that has protected old-growth forests in the US for 25 years. If finalized, the rollback is expected to benefit the companies that Tom Schultz, chief of the US Forest Service, represented in his previous roles as a timber industry lobbyist and executive, according to research by consumer advocacy non-profit Public Citizen.The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, more commonly known as the “roadless rule”, was adopted in 2001 to limit development in roughly 45m acres of national forest. Industry interests and Republican representatives have long lobbied for the rule’s rescission, which would open up those swaths of untouched land to road construction, drilling and logging. Continue reading...
