Watershed Restoration Science
Road reclamation, sometimes known as road obliteration or decommissioning, is becoming an increasingly common method for restoring degraded habitats. In January 2001, the Forest Service adopted the National Forest System Road Management Strategy (Roads Policy) outlining the potential expansion of unroaded areas by 5-10% by reclaiming up to 100,000 miles of roads. Additionally, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and several State Parks use road removal as a form of wildland restoration.
Although some research has been conducted on road reclamation restoring fish and wildlife habitat, the science has not caught up with the amount of reclamation actually occurring.
Wildlands CPR is focusing on increasing the amount of research on road reclamation to restore wildlands. With a strong scientific understanding of this work, we can create best management practices for implementing road reclamation. Additionally, with a full understanding of how road reclamation restores wildlands, we can more effectively advocate for road reclamation as a key restoration tool on public lands.
Benefits and Impacts of Road Removal
