Katherine Thorndike: Protecting wilderness in White Mountain National Forest

To The Daily Sun,

Whether readers are a native or a newcomer in New Hampshire, the White Mountains are known as a place of beauty, hiking, year-round recreation and tranquility. There are scenic trails, winding roads with scenic views, and beautiful landscapes. Not only are the White Mountains frequented by Granite Staters, but by many from New England and outside of New England.

That’s why I am speaking out against the plan by the federal government to do away with the Roadless Conservation Area Rule. This was a landmark policy passed by the U.S. Forest Service in 2001 to protect approximately 58.5 million acres of undeveloped national forest lands from new road construction and commercial logging. It also protected and preserved critical wildlife habitats, clean municipal water sources, and backcountry recreation. In 2025, the U.S. Forest Service decided to do away with the Roadless Rule and to begin the process to make that happen. That would mean that 240,000 acres in the White Mountain National Forest would no longer be protected and would be open to logging and road construction. Franconia Notch and Mount Chocurua are just two areas that would no longer be protected. Those are areas that many of us have frequented and enjoyed over the years. There are other areas in jeopardy.

The U.S Forest Service, under the auspices of the federal government, appears to be quietly moving this forward and the service has not yet offered public hearings so that public opinions can be expressed.

The Roadless Conservation Area Rule should stay in effect and NH’s White Mountains should stay protected from logging and road construction. Wildlife habitats, water sources, and recreation areas need to continue to be protected.

Katherine Thorndike

Sandwich