Ranking Democrat Grijalva Cheers Repeal of Reckless Trump-Era Rule for Tongass National Forest

Press Release

Natural Resources Committee Ranking Democrat Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) today issued the following statement on the U.S. Forest Service's repeal of the Trump administration's 2020 Roadless Rule, which exempted the Tongass National Forest from roadless rule protections, exposing the area to major, environmentally devastating logging and construction projects.. This move by the Biden administration will effectively restore roadless protections for more than 9 million acres in southeastern Alaska, the largest intact temperate rainforest in the United States and a major carbon sink.

"Putting protections back in place for the Tongass National Forest honors the Indigenous Peoples who consider these lands sacred, recognizes the forest's cultural and economic value, and is a win in the fight against climate change," said Grijalva. "When America's forests are healthy and managed with sustainability in mind, they absorb carbon pollution and protect biodiversity, making them one of our most powerful tools for climate action. I'm grateful to the Biden administration for making the right decision for the people of Alaska and our planet today."

When the Trump administration proposed removing roadless protections for Tongass National Forest, 96 percent of public comments opposed the proposal.

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