The reason the Forest Service builds these roads, quite apart from the deep pleasure of doing noisy things in the woods with big yellow machines, is to allow private timber companies to get to previously inaccessible stands of trees. Of the Forest Service's 150 million acres of loggable land, about two-thirds is held in store for the future. The remaining one-third-49 million acres, or an area roughly twice the size of Ohio-is available for logging. It allows huge swathes of land to be clear-cut
The Forest Service constructs roads primarily to facilitate access for private timber companies to areas of the forest that were previously hard to reach. While the construction may provide enjoyment for those operating heavy machinery, the main goal is to enable logging operations in these areas. Of the extensive 150 million acres of land that the Forest Service oversees for logging, only one-third is currently available for timber harvesting, which amounts to approximately 49 million acres.
This accessible land allows for significant logging activities, including clear-cutting practices that can drastically alter the landscape. The scale of this effort is substantial, as it represents an area nearly twice the size of Ohio. This highlights the tension between timber production and the preservation of forest ecosystems, raising questions about sustainability and long-term environmental impact.
