Community hearing to protect White Mountains
The U.S. Forest Service is trying to roll back one of the most important protections for our National Forests while shutting the public out of the process.
In 2026, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule turns 25. Adopted in 2001, the Roadless Rule protects 58.5 million acres of national forest land, including 240,000 of the 800,00 acre White Mountain National Forest from road construction and large-scale logging. These “roadless areas” are some of the last intact wild forests we have. They protect clean drinking water, provide critical wildlife habitat and offer unmatched opportunities to hunt, fish, hike and camp.
In the White Mountains, the roadless areas act as buffers around the designated Wilderness Areas. Many iconic hiking trails are in these protected areas.
When the Roadless Rule was first created, the Forest Service held more than 400 public hearings across the country and received millions of public comments. People showed up, spoke out, and demanded lasting protections for their forests.
Now the Forest Service wants to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and those protections, without holding a single public hearing. That is unacceptable.
In response, groups across the country are organizing Community Hearings so our voices are heard. By attending, you will learn what the rollback means and have your testimony recorded and submitted to the Forest Service.
Join us on Wednesday, June 24 at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Church on 274 Pleasant St. in Concord.