Good News for Roadless Areas (BTW, What’s a Roadless Area?)

First, the good news: Thursday, President Obama put a halt to logging and development in all National Forest roadless areas. Although the order is good for only one year (during which a long-term policy can be formed,) it brings a needed respite for those protecting these places.

So, just what *are* roadless areas? Basically, they’re just that: plots of raw, undeveloped land not yet under federal protection (the Boundary Waters were once under this designation, before they became what they are today.)

The map detail above shows only some of Minnesota’s 24 roadless areas. 19 of them are adjacent to the BWCA. Many contain or sit aside lakes; some are critical habitat for species like the Canada Lynx. These areas are open to the public to explore, fish, and even camp upon.

The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness has more info on their site. Hopefully these places will ‘graduate’ to federal protection. And as always, you’ll find updates here in UpNorthica.