The government of the United States President, Donald Trump, has announced its intention to rescind a key environmental protection that has been in place for 25 years.
This decision will pave the way for tree logging in vast expanses of virgin forests across the country. The measure puts at stake a total of 24 million hectares, an area that exceeds three times the size of Panama.
The announcement was made on Monday, following an event in Santa Fe, New Mexico, attended by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
Faced with this drastic resolution, various environmental groups have pledged to take the case to court to stop its implementation.
For the Trump administration, environmental protection is considered obsolete
According to Rollins’ statements, the administration will rescind what is known as the “Roadless Rule” of 2001. This regulation has so far protected one-third of the total area of the national forests of the United States.
The “Roadless Rule” was introduced by former Democratic President Bill Clinton and, at the time, was considered a key step for the protection of the country’s wilderness areas.
Its main objective was to prohibit tree logging, road construction, mining, and drilling in extensive forest areas.
However, Rollins has stated that this rule is considered obsolete by the current administration.
In a statement, Rollins said: “Once again, President Trump removes absurd barriers to sensible management of our natural resources by rescinding the roadless rule, which was too restrictive.”
All in favor of fossil fuels
Since his return to power at the end of January, President Trump, known for his support for fossil fuels and skepticism towards climate change, has pushed for a significant dismantling of US climate policy.
As part of this trend, in March, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would revoke dozens of measures enacted during the tenure of former Democratic President Joe Biden.
These include regulations aimed at reducing vehicle emissions and decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide that coal-fired power plants can release into the atmosphere.
Facing this scenario, environmentalists’ concern is palpable. Josh Hicks, campaign director for conservation at The Wilderness Society, warned that repealing the “Roadless Rule” represents “an attack on the air and water we breathe and drink.
These are spaces that provide abundant recreational opportunities that millions of people enjoy each year, wildlife habitats, and important buffers against forest fires.
The environmental community is gearing up for a fierce legal and public battle in defense of these vital ecosystems.
