Position Statement on the USDA’s Proposed Repeal of the Roadless Rule (September 14, 2026)

In August 2026, the USDA Forest Service opened a public comment period through September 21, 2026 on their proposal to repeal the 2001 Roadless Rule. NH Healthy Climate is against this repeal on the basis that it will harm the health of New Hampshire residents while compromising our state’s climate change mitigation and adaptation options.

While the USDA states that one goal of the proposed repeal is to manage wildfire risk, the U.S. Forest Service reports that 85% of wildfires result from human sources within close proximity of roads. Human sourced fires also tend to be more devastating than naturally occurring fires.

Wildfire smoke (whether originating within or outside of our state boundaries) poses an increasing health risk to people in our state, increasing the incidence of asthma, cardiovascular, lung, kidney issues, and pregnancy complications. During high smoke periods, sensitive populations are advised to refrain from outdoor activities, impacting mental and physical health. In the long term, wildfire smoke has been linked to increased rates of dementia and cancer. Wildfires also contribute substantially to our accelerating climate change and its associated health impacts due to the vast amount of carbon dioxide added to our atmosphere.

New Hampshire forests are an essential component in our state’s climate change adaptation toolbox that will be put at risk if the Roadless Rule is repealed. Forests capture water from intense downpours, which are becoming more common in New Hampshire as a result of changing weather patterns in the northeast. This natural resource thus functions to reduce flood risk while also providing water filtration. Forests provide local climate regulation and improve air quality, in addition to providing shade as relief from extreme heat. This is especially important as we experience more hot days each year. Compromising this vital climate adaptation resource will increase our residents’ exposure to floods, extreme heat, and the economic and mental health effects of extreme weather events.

New Hampshire forests are also a critical carbon sink (storing vast amounts of carbon that would otherwise be in the atmosphere) and one of our state’s key resources for climate change mitigation. Globally, 13-21% of greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to be from deforestation and degradation. Research has shown that road construction has historically compromised forests by accelerating permanent deforestation, fostering the introduction of invasive species, and as noted above, increasing wildfire risk. Given the extensive effects of global climate change on our health, we oppose actions that risk accelerating this phenomenon.

NH Healthy Climate’s mission is “to provide New Hampshire healthcare workers the tools to educate and mobilize the public in support of climate solutions to improve health for all.” We see the repeal of the Roadless Rule as a threat to these values, and therefore strongly oppose it.