To the Journal editor:

The U.S. Forest Service needs to keep its Roadless Rule, which protects millions of acres of wild public lands. In 2001, after hundreds of public hearings and input from more than a million stakeholders, the Forest Service established the Roadless Area Conservation Rule which meant that Roadless areas – with limited exceptions – have been kept free of roads and development.

In addition to designated wilderness areas, Michigan has 6 roadless areas (https://maps.roadless.org/). The largest of these, Norwich Plains in the Ottawa National Forest, includes parts of the North Country Trail. I have hiked in this area and was impressed by the stunning views and beautiful wildlfowers. Roadless Areas are open to hunting, fishing, hiking and birdwatching. Areas free of roads provide recreational opportunities not available in other parts of our public lands and deserve continued protection.

There will be a People’s Hearing on Rollbacks to Public Lands Protection at G002 Noblet Forestry Building, Michigan Technological University, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday. For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/SCRoadlessRuleOpenHouse.