Federal Court Supports National Roadless Rule, Affirms Value of 49 Million Acres of Backcountry

Upholding the 2001 roadless rule affirms the value of backcountry areas in sustaining healthy and secure habitat for fish and wildlife. Photo by George Cooper.

The U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a 2001 national roadless rule governing 49 million acres of roadless areas across the country. The decision marks a sweeping win for hunters, anglers and conservationists alike as it resolves uncertainty about federal management of roadless areas across the country.

“This decision affirmed the value of backcountry areas in sustaining healthy and secure habitat for fish and wildlife – something hunters and anglers have known for years,” said Joel Webster, director of the TRCP Center for Western Lands. “Sound roadless conservation policies safeguard big-game habitat security, productive trout and salmon fisheries and our sporting traditions. The 2001 roadless rule is a strong mechanism for conserving America’s backcountry recreational activities and outdoor heritage.”

The “roadless rule” is a multiple-use national forest management regulation that was designed to limit road building and timber harvest on undeveloped public lands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The rule determines the management of all national forest roadless areas outside of Idaho and has been a key area of focus for the TRCP since it was founded in 2002.

While access is important to sportsmen, densely roaded areas have been shown negatively affect elk and deer behavior, reproduction and survival and consequently hunter opportunity. Excessive, poorly located roads contribute to increased sediment loads in waterways that are important to wild trout and salmon, thereby diminishing the number and size of fish.

Learn more about the TRCP’s work in support of roadless area conservation.

Get involved today to help conserve public-lands by signing up as a TRCP Western Sportsman Advocate.