This week on The Wild Line, we cover major developments affecting public lands, national forests, tribal sovereignty, water protections, national parks, and conservation policy—plus what to watch in Congress in the coming days.

This Week’s Headlines

Forest Service eases oil and gas leasing regulations

The U.S. Forest Service announced it will ease oil and gas leasing regulations on National Forest lands. The new rule replaces parcel-by-parcel environmental review with broad, landscape-level analysis that could cover millions of acres at once. While industry groups like the American Petroleum Institute welcomed the change as “streamlining,” environmental advocates warn it aligns with broader efforts to privatize or give away public lands to fossil fuel developers.

Tongass National Forest old-growth logging proposal moves forward

The Forest Service also released a final Environmental Impact Statement for a massive logging project on Revilla Island in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. The project would allow harvest of approximately 60 million board feet of old-growth across 4,300 acres and cutting of 20 million board feet of young growth over 15 years, as well as construction of 13–14 miles of new road and 30 miles of temporary road

This proposal closely resembles a 2020 project that was shelved due to public opposition and lack of industry interest.

📌 Listen in to our Roadless Month episodes, including our conversation with Andrew Thoms about the Tongass National Forest.

Roadless Rule under renewed threat

Former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth joins three other former agency chiefs in a new op-ed published by The Hill, urging the administration not to repeal the Roadless Rule. A draft decision to repeal the Roadless Rule is expected in March. The Wild Idea will host a special webinar on this issue early next month.

Cherokee Nation affirms rights of the “Longperson”

The Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians unanimously approved a resolution affirming the rights of the Great Smoky Mountains stream system known as “The Longperson.” The resolution was brought forward by a group of young Cherokee women concerned about the intertwined erosion of ecological systems and cultural continuity.

Alabama lawmakers target water quality protections

Two bills in the Alabama state legislature—HB 162 and SB 71—would strip state agencies of their authority to set water quality standards protective of human health. The legislation would prevent action on PFAS contamination and shift cleanup costs onto drinking water consumers.

If you live in Alabama or recreate on its waterways, you can take action through the Alabama Rivers Alliance.

National Park signage removed across the country

Following the removal of slavery-related signage at Independence Hall, visitors have reported additional removals at Grand Canyon National Park, Glacier National Park, and Big Bend National Park. The Washington Post reports that the administration ordered signage removal at 17 park sites across six states. Advocacy groups argue these actions violate core National Park Service principles.

Citizen science group Save Our Signs is documenting signage before it disappears.

NPCA names new President & CEO

Tiernan Sittenfeld has been selected as the next President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, beginning March 1. She becomes the organization’s eleventh chief executive and second woman to hold the role.

What to watch next week in Congress

Historic Roadways Protection Act (S.90)

Senator Mike Lee’s bill would block the Bureau of Land Management from implementing travel management plans in Utah, undermining efforts to manage motorized vehicle use across millions of acres of public land.

Boundary Waters mining resolution

The Senate may take up a Congressional Review Act resolution that could reopen the door to mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness—following the administration’s unprecedented submission of a Biden-era mining ban to Congress.

New study: National Monuments and local economies

A new study from The Conservation Alliance and Headwaters Economics analyzed economic trends in communities surrounding 30 large western National Monuments designated before 2022. The findings challenge claims that National Monuments harm local economies—an argument increasingly used to justify reducing or eliminating monument protections.

Next Week

That’s our report for January 30, 2026. We’ll be back next Friday with another Wild Line.

Until then — Act Up and Run Wild.

January is Roadless Month on The Wild Idea.

Throughout the month, we’re exploring the landscapes, communities, and ideas shaped by America’s roadless public lands — and what’s at stake as these protections face renewed threats.

Why? Because decisions being discussed right now affect public land forever.

Join us all month long for conversations about roadless landscapes across the country, from the Southern Appalachians to the Tongass, the Gila Wilderness, and beyond. Check back for new episodes, resources, and opportunities to engage all month long, and please follow us on social media or share this episode with a friend. 

Subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast player, and be sure to follow us on social media, too: we’re on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn. We also send out a weekly newsletter with updates on our show: sign up for that list right here.