By Callie Moore
Guest Columnist
The future of some of America’s last wild forests, including treasured landscapes here in the Southern Blue Ridge, are at risk. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to roll back the 25-year-old Roadless Rule, one of history’s most important conservation policies. Meanwhile, the federal government has reduced transparency requirements, making it more difficult for people to speak up.
In response, MountainTrue is hosting a "People’s Public Hearing" from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 16, in the second-floor historic courtroom of the Beal Center, Historic Courthouse on the Square in downtown Hayesville. This hearing will provide the public with a chance to learn more and submit their own comments about the Roadless Rule.
More than 30 percent of the Designated Roadless Areas in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests lie in Clay, Cherokee, Graham and Macon counties. These beloved places include: Boteler Peak, also known as Shooting Creek Bald, Chunky Gal, Tusquitee Bald, Cheoah Bald and the Snowbird Mountains.
Roadless Areas are not designated wilderness and the Forest Service is allowed to carry out responsible stewardship like prescribed burns and habitat restoration within them. The Roadless Rule prevents permanent road development that fragments forests, increases erosion, that degrades water quality, and increases the potential for wildfire.
“These forests belong to all of us,” said Josh Kelly, MountainTrue Resilient Forests Director. “If the federal government won't hear from the people, we’ll create those opportunities ourselves. People deserve a voice in decisions that will shape our forests for generations.”
Details: Contact Callie Moore, Southwestern Regional Director, at callie@mountaintrue.org or 828-617-0825.