Virginia Wilderness Committee has been instrumental in every Wilderness Campaign in Virginia's history. We were there for the landmark Eastern Wilderness Act of 1970, and have been active in every campaign since. Most recent Virginia additions to the National Wilderness Preservation System include Ramsey's Draft (1984), and the Priest and Three Ridges (2000). And now, as of March 30, 2009, we can celebrate victory in the Jefferson National Forest with the passage of the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act (see below).
In addition, a new campaign is underway for the George Washington National Forest. Read more below.
In the Jeff: The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act
The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2009, introduced by Rep. Rick Boucher, permanently protects more than 53,000 acres of public lands in southwest Virginia’s Jefferson National Forest. Signed into law on March 30, 2009, the Ridge and Valley Act designates six new wilderness areas, a wilderness study area, two new scenic areas, and expands six existing wilderness areas.
VWC has been working on the Ridge and Valley Act since 2002, and the diligence of many has finally paid off. The bill passed only because of broad bi-partisan support across the state, and because of the footwork of many individuals who advocated for the protection of these special wild areas in the Jeff.
Read more information about the bill and about the special areas that are protected by this legislation.
In the GW: New Proposal for Wilderness and National Scenic Area
The Virginia Wilderness Committee and Friends of Shenandoah Mountain are working collaboratively on a new proposal to protect the Shenandoah Mountain area, Laurel Fork, and Kelley Mountain.
Shenandoah Mountain provides the western backdrop for much of the Shenandoah Valley, and is one of the largest tracts of remote wild land left in the eastern United States. The Shenandoah Mountain Proposal includes a National Scenic Area to protect much of the mountain between Rt. 250 and Rt. 33, with pockets of Wilderness in Skidmore Fork, Little River, Bald Knob, and Lynn Hollow.
We also recommend Laurel Fork as a Wilderness Area, and Kelley Mountain as a National Scenic Area.
Read more about this new proposal, or contact us.