There are vast amounts of land in this country that only have roads and infrastructure because of logging and mining.
Anyone who spends any mount of time outdoors at any longitude west of Denver, is sure to drive down these forest and mining roads when camping. Not to mention, these roads often open up access to lands for new towns and communities. And, as we are approaching the season, these roads are used for emergency services and additionally the maintenance of forests through controlled burns and the prevention of further spreading wildfires.
> Not to mention, these roads often open up access to lands for new towns and communities.
That would be the "other ancillary development that always seems to follow" that the GP comment says there's value in preventing.
There a line of thinking that says that humans are evil and there should be less of them and those that remain should be confined to a more limited area.
Anyone who spends any mount of time outdoors at any longitude west of Denver, is sure to drive down these forest and mining roads when camping. Not to mention, these roads often open up access to lands for new towns and communities. And, as we are approaching the season, these roads are used for emergency services and additionally the maintenance of forests through controlled burns and the prevention of further spreading wildfires.