What happens when 4 million acres of Utah forests lose protection? | Inside Voices

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The aspen groves and Douglas fir stands that have watched generations of Utahns learn to ski, hike and find solace in nature could soon face chainsaws and development under a Trump administration proposal to rescind federal roadless protections.

“We must use our voice to speak for these intact forests that otherwise could be on the literal chopping block,” writes Jack Stauss, executive director of Save Our Canyons, in a Voices essay published this week.

Stauss warns that over four million acres of Utah forest lands currently protected under the 2001 Roadless Rule could be opened to logging and development.

Stauss, who has seen the Wasatch Mountains change over decades of exploration, argues that rescinding the rule would be “completely antithetical to a sustainable future for the Wasatch Range.”

He points to his favorite Big Cottonwood Canyon spot, Mill D — where he learned to backcountry ski and now teaches others — as an example of what’s at stake.

Read his full perspective on why these protections matter and how Utahns can weigh in before the Sept. 19 deadline.

And let me know: How do you use Utah’s roadless areas? What would losing these protections mean to you?

— Sam Morse, Newsletter Editor

A Quick Note 👋

Before going any further, I wanted to e-introduce myself…

I’m Sam Morse, the Trib’s Newsletter Editor and I’ll be filling in while Sara’s out on family leave (go Sara!).

I’m looking forward to bringing you local insights and digging into hard questions — so please feel free to reach out and share your thoughts.

Now back to our regular programming 📫

Cheers, Sam

Utah Voices

The University of Utah’s parking ‘fix’ will hurt commuting students like me

“I, along with many other students, not only go to school — we also work,” writes commuter-student Lance Rogers. “Whether part-time or full-time, we fit our jobs into our schedule, often planning our classes around our work. With this new parking plan, many students are going to struggle to work around new class times after already building their schedules. For some, it just isn’t an option.” Read more.

Applying to college in the age of racial trauma

“This new, higher premium placed on racially traumatic experiences produces numerous undesirable consequences,” writes Yale Law School professor Justin Driver. “Most prominently, many college applicants will be filled with racial resentment that they feel required to — in the parlance — “perform their trauma” for admissions officers. When Black applicants feel pressured to comb through their prior brushes with racial discrimination … for the sake of improving their chances at the Ivy League and its ilk, that process sows the seeds of resentment.” Read more.

Women are not fully seen and supported in America’s health care system. Here’s a case in point.

“[Polycystic ovary syndrome] community members describe health care experiences as dismissive and say there is not enough information to understand the disorder entirely,” writes healthcare advocate Hannah Truman. “Rather than relying on patient advocacy, there needs to be an increase in research funding, education, awareness and offering support to validate and properly diagnose.” Read more.

Does the LDS Church want to be among the churches that didn’t condemn Israel for the monstrosities it is committing against Palestinians?

“Joseph Smith strived to teach the truth, not what made him popular,” writes LDS Church member Kiernan Thompson. “Joseph Smith was so unpopular for this that he was murdered. …. Joseph Smith was human, just like the rest of us, and he made mistakes, just as we, as a church, have made. Please, however, do not let this genocide go on unnoticed. Call out Netanyahu, Israel and America for helping fund the murder of innocent Palestinians.” Read more.

Share Your Perspective

This week we learned that a provision in Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” directs the U.S. Forest Service to nearly double timber sales from public lands by 2032 — a move that conservationist Mitch Friedman warns could worsen wildfire conditions by targeting big, hardy trees while leaving behind smaller, more flammable ones.

The Forest Service is taking public comments until Sept. 19 on rescinding roadless protections for 60 million acres of wildlands.

But I want to hear from you, too! How should we balance timber production with wildfire prevention and habitat protection on public lands? What does responsible forest management look like to you?

From Bagley’s Desk

Drop Us a Note

We’re always looking for fresh perspectives, ideas and solutions that’ll move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop us a note at voices@sltrib.com.