Roadless forests are at risk, but you can help
Growing up in Hood River, I always had a view of Mt. Hood. I spent hours on bumpy forest roads on the way to Lost Lake or a forest hike and thought every freeway in the world was as scenic as the stretch of I-84 between The Dalles and Portland. I distinctly remember my disappointment during my family’s first-ever drive to Seattle. No river, no gorge: just a boring road.
Today, I don’t take for granted the breathtaking views when driving through the gorge or up to Mt. Hood. But I do understand something I didn’t as a kid: roads have consequences. They fracture ecosystems, destroy wildlife habitat, open the door to destructive logging, and increase the risk of wildfire.
So when USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans this past summer to rescind the Roadless Rule—a policy that protects 44 million acres of national forests from new road construction, including 118,000 acres (11%) of Mt. Hood National Forest—Bark knew we had to fight back. And we knew that we couldn’t take this on alone.
Over the summer, Bark teamed up with other environmental orgs in the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance to rally our communities. Together, we created shareable, accessible videos and action alerts for social media designed to reach people who might not follow forest policy closely but care deeply about the Gorge and Mt. Hood.
More than just seeing higher numbers on our feeds, what mattered most was hearing from people who told us these posts were the first time they’d understood what the Roadless Rule actually does, and why losing it would be so devastating.
By the end of the 21-day comment period, more than 600,000 people had submitted comments—99% of them in defense of roadless protections. This level of mobilization was only possible because organizations, communities, and individuals came together with one voice.
The fate of the Roadless Rule is still uncertain. But what is certain is that Bark will keep fighting for Mt. Hood National Forest’s roadless areas. And we need you with us.