Montana Forests at a Crossroads | Butte News

Montana’s forests are at a crossroads as lawmakers eye rolling back the 25-year-old Roadless Rule, which shields millions of acres from new roads and logging. Supporters, including the governor, argue it’s needed to tackle wildfire risks and manage overgrown forests — especially on nearly 60% of Forest Service land. But environmentalists warn it could endanger pristine habitats, wildlife corridors, and water sources, while also questioning whether more roads will actually solve maintenance backlogs. The USDA says lifting the rule empowers local managers to act against wildfires — but don’t expect immediate chaos: public input ended in September, and final decisions are still pending as agencies weigh all sides. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/1b225c22c87de351