Colorado's Roadless Backcountry at Risk

The Administration is currently moving forward with a rule-making that would remove the protections of the 2001 roadless rule and replace it with one that offers less protection for these landscapes. At stake are some of Colorado's most scenic backcountry forests. If adopted, the new rule would dramatically increase logging and road-building in 4.4 million acres of Colorado's best backcountry, while giving the green light to roughly 100 new oil and gas drilling projects, impacting valuable fish and wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation opportunities.

• New poll finds that Coloradoans strongly in favor of protecting undeveloped national forests from oil and gas production
• View the Administration's proposed rule for Colorado
• More about Colorado's roadless areas

More Forest News

Supported by millions of Americans, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects more than 58 million acres of America's wild forests for generations to enjoy.

Learn more about the importance of roadless areas across America

  • The Roadless Rule
  • The benefits of roadless areas
  • Attempts to undermine the rule

They're OUR National Forests. Will the logging and mining interests get the last piece of the pie?

(Click here to see a full-sized pie chart showing how much of our national forests are in limbo.)

Wildlife land plans raise doubts
The Denver Post
November 10, 2008

Boatload of letters for forest protections delivered
The Denver Post
October 24, 2008

Colorado compromise plan for roadless forests draws fire
The Daily Herald
October 10, 2008

Colo., US officials to discuss roadless area plans
KJCT8 ABC
October 9, 2008

Colorado roadless plan draws fire
The Aspen Times
October 9, 2008

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