Trump rollback of US forest protections could accelerate extinction of 400 endangered species

The Trump administration's decision to rescind the 'roadless rule' opens millions of acres of national forest to development, including logging and drilling. Conservationists warn this could threaten the habitats of over 400 endangered species.
Why it matters
This policy change represents a significant shift in environmental protection standards, balancing industrial access against biodiversity conservation.
A grey wolf watching visiting raven in Yellowstone national park in the northwestern US. A grey wolf watching visiting raven in Yellowstone national park in the northwestern US. Trump administration Trump rollback of US forest protections could accelerate extinction of 400 endangered species Decision to rescind ‘roadless rule’ opens more than 45m acres of national forests to roads, drilling and logging
Prefer the Guardian on Google More than 400 endangered animal and plant species could face accelerated extinction after the Donald Trump administration’s decision to rescind a rule that has protected old-growth forests for more than two decades.
According to a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity, the rollback of the Bill Clinton-era “roadless rule” could put 7.4m acres of endangered-species habitat and nearly 1,800 miles of protected rivers and streams at risk, while opening more than 45m acres of national forests to roads, drilling and logging.
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