The future of some of America’s last wild forests — including treasured landscapes here in Western North Carolina — is at risk. The U.S. Forest Service is proposing to roll back the 25-year-old Roadless Rule to make way for road building, logging and mining in the largest reduction of public land protections in its history. Meanwhile, the federal government has reduced transparency requirements, making it more difficult for forest advocates to speak up.
In response, seventeen national and regional conservation and recreation organizations, from the Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society to Pisgah SORBA and MountainTrue are hosting a forest “roundtable” in Asheville April 15 to allow the public a chance to learn more and submit their opinions on the proposed rescission.
“These forests belong to all of us,” said MountainTrue Resilient Forests Director Josh Kelly. “If the federal government won’t hear from the people, we’ll create those opportunities ourselves. Western North Carolinians deserve a voice in decisions that will shape our forests for generations.”
This event is a chance to learn more, share your perspective, and stand with others who care deeply about the future of our forests.
“We hope folks will come out and express what these backcountry gems mean for them and all others who enjoy their beauty and recreational opportunities,” said David Reid, National Forests Issue Chair for the NC Sierra Club.
About the Roadless Rule
In 2001, the U.S. Forest Service adopted the Roadless Area Conservation Rule to protect nearly 59 million acres of national forest lands from road building, logging, and industrial development. Supported by overwhelming public input, the rule has safeguarded clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and backcountry recreation opportunities for more than two decades.
Now, that protection is under serious threat.
In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to rescind the Roadless Rule, opening these lands to new roads, logging, and mining. If finalized, the rollback would affect nearly one-third of all national forest lands in the United States — removing protections from some of our most ecologically important and economically valuable places. That includes more than 150,000 acres in Pisgah and Nantahala national forests alone, from Tusquitee Bald to Wilson Creek.
Roadless areas are far more than lines on a map. They provide drinking water to tens of millions of Americans, store vast amounts of carbon that help slow global warming, and support thriving outdoor recreation economies. Here in Western North Carolina, that connection is especially clear.
“Roadless areas are our country’s beating heart of biodiversity — places where the wild is still wild,” said Will Harlan, Southeast Director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Wildlife — including hellbenders, warblers, and trout — depend on roadless areas, and we need them, too. They protect our drinking water and scenic views, and they safeguard a vital part of our heritage and humanity.”
About 15% of Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are Inventoried Roadless Areas — places like Linville Gorge, Craggy Mountain, the Black Mountains, and the headwaters of the South Mills River. These landscapes are central to our region’s identity and economy. According to a Made x Mountains survey, outdoor recreation is a $5 billion industry in Western North Carolina, supporting roughly 48,000 jobs.
Importantly, the Roadless Rule already strikes a balance of allowances. These areas are not designated wilderness, and allow the Forest Service to carry out responsible stewardship like prescribed burns and habitat restoration within them. At the same time, the rule prevents permanent development that fragments forests, increases erosion, and degrades water quality. Research also shows that wildfires are more likely to start near roads, underscoring the value of keeping these areas free of them. In fact, according to a study conducted by The Wilderness Society, the density of wildfires is nearly four times higher near roads in forests compared with roadless areas.
More resources, maps and information about the roadless rule can be found at roadless.org. If you can’t make the event, comments can be submitted at roadless.org/contact-representatives.
Asheville Forest roundtable
WHAT: A roundtable of conservation organizations, forest advocates and the general public will share information and resources about the Roadless Rule. Organizers will help attendees submit comments about the proposal to the U.S. Forest Service, if they wish. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
WHO: The general public is invited to join representatives from NC Audubon, Sierra Club, Pisgah SORBA, Trout Unlimited, NC Wildlife Federation, Center for Biological Diversity, The Wilderness Society, Outdoor Alliance, Carolina Climbers Coalition, Environment America, NC Wildlife Federation, and MountainTrue
WHEN: 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 15
WHERE: The Mule at Devil’s Foot Beverage, 131 Sweeten Creek Rd., Asheville, NC 28803
Additional events
Hayesville People’s Public Hearing
WHEN: April 16, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Beal Center, Historic Courthouse, 2nd Floor
Brevard People’s Public Hearing
WHEN: Late April or early May, exact date TBD
WHERE: TBD
