Roadless Rules Progress in Idaho

There is an interesting story here in the Idaho Stateman about how the state has dealt with the Roadless Rule problem. The Idaho Conservation League and the Intermountain Forest Association both have supported protecting 8.9 million acres of national forest.

The Wilderness Society was not supportive of the plan, stating that it would take 400,000 acres out of roadless area protection under the preivous Clinton/Gore roadless rule. The Clinton/Gore rule was overturned by the Bush Administration leaving many roadless areas in limbo.

The proposed rule would create 250 roadless areas under five management themes that would guide road contruction, timber cutting and mineral development. It would supercede the 2001 rule that has resulted in 10 lawsuits. While the new rule does open 405,000 acres of roadless areas, it also narrow restrictions on logging and road building to 442,000 acres of the total 8.9 million acres of roadless lands.

The good faith effort on roadless areas has paved the way to take on another seemingly intractable problem-- salmon.