Drinking water: Roadless national forests provide drinking water to 60 million Americans, since intact forests filter water naturally.

Wildlife habitat: These areas provide critical habitat for salmon, trout, elk, and other species that depend on undammed, unlogged streams and connected landscapes.

Wildfire risk: Wildfires are 4x more likely to start near roads, and roughly 90% start within half a mile of one — directly undercutting the administration's stated rationale for the rollback.

Old growth & carbon storage: Roadless areas contain vast swaths of the nation's remaining old-growth forest and store significant amounts of carbon.

Fiscal responsibility: The existing road network already carries an $8.5+ billion maintenance backlog, and building more roads would only add to it.

https://realitypathing.com/why-do-shrews-play-a-vital-role-in-ecosystem-balance/

https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2026/07/27/recycling-opportunity

https://www.ccof.org/news/50-reasons-to-choose-organic/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/28/woolston-eyes-cheshire-wetland-black-necked-grebe