Conservation groups hold public meetings on forest protections after feds won't

Federal officials announced in August they would terminate a 25-year-old rule protecting from development on nearly 60 million acres of forests, including 2 million in Oregon

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:56pm

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A serene, painterly scene of an old-growth forest in the Pacific Northwest, with sunlight filtering through the canopy and deep shadows cast across the forest floor, conveying the tranquility and natural beauty of these protected wilderness areas.As federal officials move to roll back protections for millions of acres of public forests, conservation groups are rallying local communities to defend the Roadless Rule's enduring legacy.Wallowa Today

Federal officials announced in August they would terminate the 2001 Roadless Rule, which prohibits road construction, logging and mining on roughly 60 million acres of public land, including about 2 million acres of forests in Oregon. In response, U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas and several conservation groups led by the Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club are holding public meetings to gather input and oppose the rollback of the rule.

Why it matters

The Roadless Rule has protected millions of acres of forests from development for over 25 years, providing benefits like clean water, carbon storage, and reduced wildfire risk. Repealing the rule could open these sensitive areas to logging, mining, and other activities that could harm the environment.

The details

Federal officials have not held any public meetings since announcing the effort to terminate the Roadless Rule in August. In response, Rep. Salinas and conservation groups are hosting their own public meetings in Oregon to gather input and oppose the rollback. The first public comment period brought in over 600,000 comments, mostly opposing changes to the rule. Salinas has introduced legislation to enshrine the Roadless Rule in federal law, but it lacks enough support to pass so far.

  • In August, federal officials announced they would terminate the 2001 Roadless Rule.
  • The first public comment period on the proposed changes ended recently, bringing in over 600,000 comments.
  • Rep. Salinas and conservation groups are holding public meetings in Oregon in April 2026 to gather input and oppose the rollback of the Roadless Rule.

The players

U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas

A Democrat representing Oregon's Willamette Valley and ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee's forestry subcommittee.

Oregon chapter of the Sierra Club

A conservation group leading the public meetings on the Roadless Rule.

Brooke Rollins

The leader of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the U.S. Forest Service and proposed terminating the Roadless Rule.

Jared Kennedy

Works for the Greater Hells Canyon Council in Enterprise, Oregon.

Kristin Faulkner

Attended public meetings on the Roadless Rule in 1999 and 2000.

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What’s next

The USDA spokesperson said another public comment period will open soon after the first round of comments are released in the coming months.

The takeaway

The proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule has sparked strong opposition from conservation groups and some lawmakers who argue the protections are more important than ever to address climate change, protect water resources, and reduce wildfire risks. The public meetings aim to amplify these concerns and pressure the federal government to maintain the long-standing rule.