Santa Fe National Forest: Proposal cuts road use in half – SantaFeNewMexican.com

With 4,924 miles of existing roads, the Santa Fe National Forest had the first or second highest density of roads per acre of any national forest in Arizona or New Mexico, depending on if wilderness areas are counted. The proposal calls for leaving 2,309 miles of road open to vehicular use. [1.5 million-acre forest] …

All national forests are creating similar, so-called Travel Management Plans to control increasingly popular off-road recreation under a 2005 Forest Service rule. Unmanaged recreation was identified as one of four major threats to national forests, along with fire, loss of open space and invasive species.

Reaction to the proposal was swift and emotional in both directions.

Santa Fe National Forest: Proposal cuts road use in half – SantaFeNewMexican.com