Opinion: New England’s winter forests need the Roadless Rule

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • September 30, 2026

Growing up in New England instilled in me a deep appreciation for trees. The roadless areas that remain are vital resources for outdoor recreation and watershed protection. But they are currently under threat. The Trump administration has moved to rescind the Roadless Rule under the guise of more local forest control and wildfire management. The Green Mountain National Forest holds approximately 80,000 acres of inventoried roadless areas. the White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) in New Hampshire and western Maine encompasses an estimated 368,000 acres of inventoried roadless areas. These are the places that create a community of people around shared outdoor experiences. At a moment filled with attempts to sell off our public lands, having the Roadless Rule to protect these places is more important than ever. ~ Anneka Williams