Save the Roadless Rule in America's National Forests: Alex Craven with the Sierra Club

I feel a sense of urgency to talk with the Sierra Club about a public comment opportunity to protect our public forests and remote wilderness habitats in the USA by defending what is called “the roadless rule” (passed with popularity in 2001) from being overturned by our USDA (the United States Dept of Agriculture), as that would mean more roads would be built in remote wilderness, and more trees logged in our National Forests, higher road maintenance costs for taxpayers, more wild animal habitats harmed and thus more animal lives lost, and potentially more wildfire risks for all of us. In this 51-minute conversation, host Carrie Freeman talks with guest Alex Craven, The Sierra Club’s forest campaign manager who explains how the Roadless Rule is “The Forest Service’s best idea," and what we can do to save it and also support National Forest Service employees and all public lands under threat in this current administration.

We discuss a helpful website --created by the Sierra Club and a partner nonprofit called More Than Just Parks -- that helps us all draft our own strategic public comment to the government officially recording our opinions regarding the roadless rule and specific roadless areas near us (the website contains a map of all roadless areas at risk across the USA, over 44 million acres). Public comments must be posted by Sept 21st 2026. The website is https://morethanjustparks.com/roadless-rule/   There is also a simpler comment process at the Sierra Club website.

Alex also mentions that we can contact our congress people about co-sponsoring and supporting the Roadless Rule Conservation Act that would provide longer-term protection for wild national forest habitats.

"In Tune to Nature" is an hour-long radio show airing Wednesdays at 6pm Eastern Time on 89.3FM-Atlanta radio and streaming worldwide on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia, a nonprofit indie station) hosted by me, Carrie Freeman, or friend Melody Paris. The show's website and my contact info can be found at https://wrfg.org/intunetonature/  While there, consider donating to Radio Free Georgia, a 50+ year old progressive, non-commercial, indie radio station, run largely by volunteers like me and Melody -- radically candid and compassionate.

And remember to take care of yourself and others, including those who rely on tens of millions of acres of intact old growth forests.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on In Tune to Nature do not necessarily reflect those of WRFG, its board, s