{
  "id": 1796866,
  "title": "Forest Service to End Protection for 45 Million Acres of Forest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/forest-service-to-end-protection-for-45-million-acres-of-forest",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T20:49:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Eos",
    "slug": "eos",
    "url": "https://eos.org/research-and-developments/forest-service-to-end-protection-for-45-million-acres-of-forest"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The U.S. Forest Service has decided to withdraw protections from 45 million acres of national forests, rescinding the Roadless Area Conservation Rule implemented in 2001. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated that the rule increases wildfire risk by preventing necessary forest management practices. However, this claim is not supported by data. Research indicates that human activity, not roadless areas, is the primary cause of wildland fires. Forest experts argue that roads would bring more people into unspoiled lands, increasing wildfire risk. The Trump administration is accused of undoing a successful land conservation policy. Nearly 95% of inventoried roadless areas are located in 10 Western states, and the rule is highly popular, with around 75% public support. The proposal will be published in the Federal Register, allowing for public comments before finalization.",
  "summary": "The U.S. Forest Service has moved forward with a rule to withdraw protections from 45 million acres of pristine national forests.",
  "key_points": [
    "U.S. Forest Service ends Roadless Area Conservation Rule for 45 million acres.",
    "Secretary Rollins claims rule increases wildfire risk, unsupported by data.",
    "Trump administration accused of reversing successful land conservation policy."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}