
Threshold Conversations | The Roadless Rule with Ben Goldfarb
From Threshold by Auricle Productions
November 18, 2025 · 26 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of the Roadless Rule and features an interview with author Ben Goldfarb about road ecology.
Last June, the U.S. the Secretary of Agriculture announced that the Trump administration intends to repeal something called the “Roadless Rule”—a policy implemented in 2001, which protected some of the Forest Service’s wildest lands from logging, mining, and road-building. Author Ben Goldfarb examined the impacts of road and roadless areas in his 2023 book, Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet . We talk with Ben about why our Forest Service lands already have so many roads, and what building more would actually mean for wildlife and for people. Threshold is nonprofit, listener-supported, and independently produced. You can support Threshold by donating today . To stay connected, sign up for our newsletter . Credits: Threshold Conversations is produced by Sam Moore. Our music is by Todd Sickafoose. Amy Martin is our host and executive producer. Resources and Links: Ben’s book, “ Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet ” at W.W. Norton To read more of Ben Goldfarb’s ecological writing, go to his website, bengoldfarb.com A map of Forest Service Roadless Areas in the United States The Forest Service website about Roadless Areas and…
People in this episode
Host: Amy Martin
Guest: Ben Goldfarb
Topics covered
- Roadless Rule
- Forest Service
- Wildlife
- Ecology
- Environmental Policy
Keywords
- Roadless Rule
- Ben Goldfarb
- Forest Service
- ecology
- wildlife
- environmental policy
- logging
- mining
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Threshold, Forest Service
Books & works: Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of Our Planet
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