Unique stretch of New England forest under threat after proposed rollback of roadless rule

MAINE MONITOR • September 11, 2026

One of the few unbroken stretches of land in New England reaches across the White Mountains that straddle the border of Maine and New Hampshire. And the unique ecosystem is under threat. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture filed to rescind “in its entirety” the national 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prohibits road construction, logging and mining on about 30% of lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. “The attempt to rescind this is not just an attempt to remove robust protections for healthy habitat, animal migration, healthy soil — it’s really an attempt to try to steal a public health resource,” said Jeff Swayze, a registered New Hampshire guide and mental health counselor.