In this urgent bonus episode of The Wild Idea, Bill and Anders sit down with Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, and a central figure in the original creation of the 2001 Roadless Rule, to unpack what’s at stake now that Secretary Rollins has announced plans to rescind it.

The Roadless Rule has protected over 58 million acres of public forestlands for nearly 25 years. But the move to eliminate it could have far-reaching consequences for water quality, wildlife habitat, hunting and fishing access, and fire-prone communities. Chris takes us inside the origins of the rule, its legal durability, and why the Forest Service today isn’t the same agency it was decades ago. Together, they explore whether this moment calls for resistance, or a recommitment to democratic action to protect our shared lands.

Topics Covered:

• What the Roadless Rule actually does (and doesn’t do)
• The long history of roadless area conservation and conflict
• Myths and facts about fire mitigation and forest health
• Why rescinding the rule won’t be simple, or popular
• The political and legal process behind rulemaking and NEPA
• What’s changed in the Forest Service since 2001
• A powerful call to action for hunters, anglers, and everyone who relies on public lands

Books, resources, and other notes from today’s episode:

• USDA Press Release on the Rule’s Rescission
• Trout Unlimited
• Roadless Area Conservation Act (Legislation Overview)
• Related episode: Randy Newberg on public land access 

Chris Wood is the President and CEO of Trout Unlimited, where he has led the organization since 2001, focusing on protecting and restoring cold-water fisheries and public lands. Before TU, he served as Senior Policy and Communications Advisor to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, where he played a key role in crafting the 2001 Roadless Rule. Known for his “relentless optimism, relentlessly applied,” Chris is a lifelong conservationist, angler, and advocate for science-based, community-driven stewardship of America’s rivers and forests. Though he may not be the best angler, he is among the most earnest. 

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