Value of Roadless Forests
 In the lower 48 states, the farthest away you can get from a road -- any road, anywhere -- is 20.3 miles.
We think that is enough roads.
Our National Forests are a shared treasure, owned in common by all Americans. Presently, over half of all our National Forests have had roads cut through them and have been logged, mined or drilled. Only 18% of our National Forests are protected as either wilderness or National Park.
The remaining third of our National Forests are considered "roadless." These are areas that have not already had roads built through them and have not been logged, mined or drilled. These roadless forests are the last remaining wild forests left in the United States. In Washington state we have a little over 2 million acres of roadless National Forests remaining.
These roadless forests provide many benefits. They are the source of safe clean drinking water for more than 60 million Americans. They provide essential habitat for threatened and endangered species. They provide the vast majority of National Forest lands where people go to hike, backpack, camp, canoe or kayak, birdwatch, ride horses in the backcountry, fish and hunt.
Since 2001, an epic struggle has been underway to decide the fate of these forests. Both locally and nationally, Washington Wilderness Coalition has been a leader in efforts to preserve our roadless forests as a legacy for future generations.
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Call on President Obama to uphold Roadless Rule
Resolution to Preserve Theodore Roosevelt's Legacy Across the nation and Washington State local stakeholders are calling on President Obama to uphold the popular and balanced protections for our roadless forests. Hundreds of elected officials, sportsmen, religious leaders and other stakeholders have already signed onto a resolution calling on President Obama to protect Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy.
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Why We Need Roadless Areas
The Case for our Roadless Forests
Perhaps more so than any other region, here in the Pacific Northwest, roadless forests are a critical part of the quality of life we have come to expect. We rely on these forests for clean and safe drinking water, recreation opportunities, economic benefits to local economies and as key habitat for our unique flora and fauna.
In many cases, roadless forests are a large part of why we live, work, play and visit Washington State, and the Roadless Rule serves as an insurance policy for their protection.
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Defending the Roadless Rule
WWC's Successful Roadless Defense Campaigns
 In 2004 and again in 2006, Washington Wilderness Coalition lead the charge in Washington State to oppose to the Bush Administration’s efforts to repeal the popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule. On August 30, 2006 Washington Governor Christine Gregoire announced that she was opening a 45-day public comment period before she petitioned the Forest Service as the last stage in a multi-pronged effort to restore protections for Washington’s roadless areas.
This was the chance to once again demonstrate the
overwhelming support for roadless forest protections here in Washington
State.
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Washington's Roadless Areas
A Look at What is at Stake  The Roadless Rule doesn’t just mean protection for wild forests nationwide; it specifically protects more than 2 million acres of national forest land in Washington State from road building and associated development. Of the 38 states that have roadless forests, Washington boasts the 9th largest roadless acreage. But, these roadless forests are more than just acres; they are the places that we hike, fish, hunt, camp, backpack, raft and kayak with our friends and family.
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