The Virginia Wilderness Committee's January 2012 newsletter is now available. Read the full content here. You may make a donation to VWC to receive future newsletters, or simply enter your email to "Join Our List" on the home page.
In this issue: Hard Times for the VWC; The Wilderness Act Turns 50; Go WILD Program Takes Off
A bill now in Congress would place 19,556 acres of Tennessee located in Cherokee National Forest in a permanent wilderness area.
Teddy Roosevelt, in a frequently cited address, once noted that, "We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune."
Roosevelt's words reach across time to remind people to tell leaders in Congress that the allure of short-term economic gain is no reason to strip protections from tens of millions of acres of still pristine areas. Unfortunately, a pending congressional proposal could undermine decades of progress in preserving this wondrous heritage.
Watch and share this short video produced by the U.S. National Park Service on the landscapes and ideas protected by the1964 Wilderness Act.
Produced in 2001 by the U.S. National Park Service, this video introduces the principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.
Our friends at Virginia Conservation Network have put together a Citizen Advocacy Toolbox. The Toolbox is designed to provide easy-to-use information on how to contact lawmakers as well as tips for effective citizen advocacy. You can start standing up for environmental issues today and provide Virginia's environment the voice it needs in government.
Have you heard the questions? Do others hound you about why we don't want designated wilderness areas, not around here?! Wilderness closes roads and shuts out access to campsites and trailheads. You cannot fight fires in wilderness. You cannot fight invasive species in wilderness. Hunting is not allowed in wilderness... on and on. Yes, we hear them all, and they are all unfounded myths. Here's the facts, posted by Friends of Shenandoah Mountain. Also, see our FAQ page. And help us spread the truth, not myths, about wilderness.
DENVER - A federal appeals court on Friday upheld a rule prohibiting roads on nearly 50 million acres of land in national forests across the United States, a ruling hailed by environmentalists as one of the most significant in decades.
Mining and energy companies, however, say it could limit development of natural resources such as coal, oil and natural gas.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule after lawyers for the state of Wyoming and the Colorado Mining Association contended it was a violation of the law.
VWC and Friends of Shenandoah Mountain invite you to join us and JMU salamander expert Billy Flint to hunt for rare and common salamanders on Shenandoah Mountain. Please join us at Reddish Knob in the George Washington National Forest this Thursday, Sept.
By Michael Lipsky
OP-ED Contributor, The New York Times
