November 2025 newsletter
Newsletter Highlights
- Fall Events Recap
- Suggested Listening
- Thriving Appalachian Forest Initiative (TAFI)
- The Value of Public Lands
- VA Wilderness Highlight – Rich Hole and Rough Mountain
From the President
VWC Board President, Anders Reynolds
Nice to meet you! As I step into the role of President of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, I find myself grateful for two things.
The first is Tim Mahoney, our outgoing President. Tim arrived in DC in 1978 as one of Debbie Sease’s buckaroos and retired just a few years ago without my ever having seen him without a tie on. Tim was in the middle of every important conservation fight from the late 70s until just a few years ago, and his theories on legislative advocacy are still the gold standard - in fact, they've been central to my own efforts on the Hill. Tim took a risk hiring me at The Pew Charitable Trusts fourteen years ago, and ever since that time I've benefited from his wisdom. He’s the one that taught me that you should never trade a place for a process. I owe so much of my own success, first at Pew but more recently at the Southern Environmental Law Center, to Tim. I’m glad he’ll remain engaged as an officer on our Board. It’s just such a shame he’s a Red Sox fan.
I’m also grateful for what’s at stake right now. That might sound counterintuitive at first, but given all the challenges public lands advocates face in this moment (including attempts to sell off public land, regulatory uncertainty, increased polarization, and increased strain on budgets and staffing), I’m heartened by the ways VWC has been able to repurpose those threats into opportunity. In October, we saw the Senate Committee on Agriculture unanimously support two bills that would enhance protections for important landscapes in Virginia’s national forests. Earlier that month, our Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens was quoted in The Guardian about our group’s efforts to turn back plans to rescind protections for Virginia’s roadless areas. And in September, VWC was front and center at Wilderness Week, where advocates and stewards from across the country gathered in our nation’s capital to celebrate wilderness even as they collaborated, strategized, and discussed how to make the movement even stronger.
VWC finds itself uniquely positioned to be a standard bearer in the next months and years. Virginia has more roadless acres than any other state on the East Coast. The Shenandoah Mountain Act and Virginia Wilderness Additions Act are seen by federal decision-makers as viable and model pieces of legislation because of the diverse stakeholder groups behind them. But threats to roadless and wilderness acres are front and center these days, and it will take your support to ensure we have the resources and bandwidth to continue leading on these issues. I’m so impressed by our organization’s ability to think strategically about both offensive opportunities and defensive challenges. If you’d like to support that work, please visit www.vawilderness.org and donate today. I can promise you it will be put to the highest use.
I look forward to working with you on protecting Virginia’s national forests. I hope you’ll reach out to me with any feedback, questions, or concerns. But for now, I’ll just say…
Go Yanks! (Sorry, Tim.)
Anders Reynolds, VWC Board President
The first is Tim Mahoney, our outgoing President. Tim arrived in DC in 1978 as one of Debbie Sease’s buckaroos and retired just a few years ago without my ever having seen him without a tie on. Tim was in the middle of every important conservation fight from the late 70s until just a few years ago, and his theories on legislative advocacy are still the gold standard - in fact, they've been central to my own efforts on the Hill. Tim took a risk hiring me at The Pew Charitable Trusts fourteen years ago, and ever since that time I've benefited from his wisdom. He’s the one that taught me that you should never trade a place for a process. I owe so much of my own success, first at Pew but more recently at the Southern Environmental Law Center, to Tim. I’m glad he’ll remain engaged as an officer on our Board. It’s just such a shame he’s a Red Sox fan.
I’m also grateful for what’s at stake right now. That might sound counterintuitive at first, but given all the challenges public lands advocates face in this moment (including attempts to sell off public land, regulatory uncertainty, increased polarization, and increased strain on budgets and staffing), I’m heartened by the ways VWC has been able to repurpose those threats into opportunity. In October, we saw the Senate Committee on Agriculture unanimously support two bills that would enhance protections for important landscapes in Virginia’s national forests. Earlier that month, our Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens was quoted in The Guardian about our group’s efforts to turn back plans to rescind protections for Virginia’s roadless areas. And in September, VWC was front and center at Wilderness Week, where advocates and stewards from across the country gathered in our nation’s capital to celebrate wilderness even as they collaborated, strategized, and discussed how to make the movement even stronger.
VWC finds itself uniquely positioned to be a standard bearer in the next months and years. Virginia has more roadless acres than any other state on the East Coast. The Shenandoah Mountain Act and Virginia Wilderness Additions Act are seen by federal decision-makers as viable and model pieces of legislation because of the diverse stakeholder groups behind them. But threats to roadless and wilderness acres are front and center these days, and it will take your support to ensure we have the resources and bandwidth to continue leading on these issues. I’m so impressed by our organization’s ability to think strategically about both offensive opportunities and defensive challenges. If you’d like to support that work, please visit www.vawilderness.org and donate today. I can promise you it will be put to the highest use.
I look forward to working with you on protecting Virginia’s national forests. I hope you’ll reach out to me with any feedback, questions, or concerns. But for now, I’ll just say…
Go Yanks! (Sorry, Tim.)
Anders Reynolds, VWC Board President
Fall Recap
Annual Meeting
At the end of August, the board of the Virginia Wilderness Committee met at the Pen Park Shelter in Charlottesville for our 51st Annual Meeting. The board voted in an exceptional slate of wilderness loving Virginians to our Executive Board. These four will lead our organization into the future and foster our work conserving biodiverse public lands and speaking up for our partners in both the public and private sectors.
At the end of August, the board of the Virginia Wilderness Committee met at the Pen Park Shelter in Charlottesville for our 51st Annual Meeting. The board voted in an exceptional slate of wilderness loving Virginians to our Executive Board. These four will lead our organization into the future and foster our work conserving biodiverse public lands and speaking up for our partners in both the public and private sectors.
From Left: President: Anders Reynolds, Vice President: Tim Mahoney, Treasurer: Ron Stoltzfus, Secretary: Tyler Meader
80s Bluegrass Tree Party in Richmond
There was a great turnout at the Hardywood Brewery on September 5 to listen to Love Canon and talk about Virginia’s public lands. A huge thanks to Jay Holloway and Kids4Climate for organizing it, and to all who came out in support of VWC.
There was a great turnout at the Hardywood Brewery on September 5 to listen to Love Canon and talk about Virginia’s public lands. A huge thanks to Jay Holloway and Kids4Climate for organizing it, and to all who came out in support of VWC.
Left: Jay Holloway checking guests in to the event; Middle: VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, VWC President Anders Reynolds, VWC Secretary Tyler Meaders and their spouses; Right: Love Canon on stage at Hardywood Brewery in Richmond for the 80s Bluegrass Tree Party..
VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens meeting with Representative Rob Wittman and staff in DC during Wilderness Week
Wilderness Week
VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens attended National Wilderness Week in Washington, D.C., September 15-17. There she met with fellow advocates, ecologists, and policy experts to talk to congressional offices, strategize with other conservation experts, create new connections, and deliver so many of your letters in support of the Roadless Rule. The public comment period garnered a whopping total of 625,931 submissions, with more than 98% of those opposed to repealing the Rule. Thank you to those who submitted them.
VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens attended National Wilderness Week in Washington, D.C., September 15-17. There she met with fellow advocates, ecologists, and policy experts to talk to congressional offices, strategize with other conservation experts, create new connections, and deliver so many of your letters in support of the Roadless Rule. The public comment period garnered a whopping total of 625,931 submissions, with more than 98% of those opposed to repealing the Rule. Thank you to those who submitted them.
Outreach Events
In October, VWC Education & Outreach Coordinator Lacey Dean was invited to speak at the College for Older Adults in Abingdon as part of their Natural Heritage series. In November, she led a hike on the Johnson Draft Trail, a part of which serves as a boundary for our proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area. If you would like her to speak to or lead a hike for your group, please contact her.
In October, VWC Education & Outreach Coordinator Lacey Dean was invited to speak at the College for Older Adults in Abingdon as part of their Natural Heritage series. In November, she led a hike on the Johnson Draft Trail, a part of which serves as a boundary for our proposed Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area. If you would like her to speak to or lead a hike for your group, please contact her.
Suggested Listening
The co-hosts of the podcast, The Wild Idea, Bill Hodge and VWC board member Anders Reynolds, have added The Wild Line, where every Friday, they bring you a short and sharp, to-the-point segment tracking what’s happening in D.C. and beyond – from public lands legislation and regulatory shake-ups to the big policy ideas shaping our collective future. Found everywhere you can listen to podcasts.
On the October 24th episode, they check in with VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens about the significance of the two Virginia bills that cleared committee.
“Aside from the ecologically rich and unique places these two bills protect, what stands out to me is their truly bipartisan origin. Both the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act and the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area Act began at the local grassroots level, with cities and counties coming together to support them. That gives me a lot of hope. It started with a love and appreciation for these special landscapes and a willingness among everyday Americans to collaborate and compromise. Our volunteers are more energized than ever, and we’re hopeful that momentum will carry through to passage in both the Senate and the House.”
On the October 24th episode, they check in with VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens about the significance of the two Virginia bills that cleared committee.
“Aside from the ecologically rich and unique places these two bills protect, what stands out to me is their truly bipartisan origin. Both the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act and the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area Act began at the local grassroots level, with cities and counties coming together to support them. That gives me a lot of hope. It started with a love and appreciation for these special landscapes and a willingness among everyday Americans to collaborate and compromise. Our volunteers are more energized than ever, and we’re hopeful that momentum will carry through to passage in both the Senate and the House.”
Above photo: The Wild Idea co-hosts Anders Reynolds and Bill Hodge recording a live podcast with Senator Tina Smith (center) during Wilderness Week in DC.
On the Precipice of Vast Forest Management Changes – We Need Answers and Your Help Thriving Appalachian Forests Initiative (TAFI)
Congress is in the midst of negotiating a land management package (FOFA, HR. 471, S. 1462) that will instigate sweeping changes in land management procedures across the country: increasing project acreage and scope while severely cutting public input and environmental review, all under the guise of wildfire resilience. However, new research suggests that management activities, such as those proposed under recent USDA directives and the Fix Out Forests Act (FOFA) alike, may only reduce flammability in a subset of ecosystems (McColl-Gausden and Penman 2019; Halsey 2023). It is true that fuel management and thinning can reduce burn severity in the dry and mediterranean climates of the Western United States (Lydersen et al. 2017). But in other forests, similar to those found in our Eastern climates, timber extraction and, to a lesser extent recent fire, increased the wildfire risk when compared with undisturbed forests (Wilson et al. 2022; Cawson et al. 2024).
Experts disagree on whether proposed large-scale forest management projects will reduce wildfire risks, or in fact, enable its rapid spread, in the Appalachian forests of the eastern United States. The USDA has issued orders to sharply expand logging on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), despite shrinking USFS budgets and staff with the goal to “fully exploit our domestic timber supply”. We need to determine the effects of management on wildfire risks before these activities begin in earnest.
Together with the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance (ABRA), we at the Virginia Wilderness Committee are launching a research initiative, Thriving Appalachian Forests Initiative, or TAFI, to investigate how different management activities impact our national forests.
We have applied for grants, and plan to submit more, but await the funding results. In the meantime, executive orders and USDA memos continue to alter how our public lands are managed, and legislation like FOFA has advanced through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. We need answers sooner, and our project needs funding now. We have already begun the work but will only be able to continue as additional funding becomes available. You can help by contributing to this vital research here.
Experts disagree on whether proposed large-scale forest management projects will reduce wildfire risks, or in fact, enable its rapid spread, in the Appalachian forests of the eastern United States. The USDA has issued orders to sharply expand logging on public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), despite shrinking USFS budgets and staff with the goal to “fully exploit our domestic timber supply”. We need to determine the effects of management on wildfire risks before these activities begin in earnest.
Together with the Allegheny Blue-Ridge Alliance (ABRA), we at the Virginia Wilderness Committee are launching a research initiative, Thriving Appalachian Forests Initiative, or TAFI, to investigate how different management activities impact our national forests.
We have applied for grants, and plan to submit more, but await the funding results. In the meantime, executive orders and USDA memos continue to alter how our public lands are managed, and legislation like FOFA has advanced through the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. We need answers sooner, and our project needs funding now. We have already begun the work but will only be able to continue as additional funding becomes available. You can help by contributing to this vital research here.
The Value of Public Lands – Preserving Our Shared Heritage for Future Generations
Public lands are a cornerstone of American heritage, providing millions the opportunity for outdoor recreation, but also providing benefits of floodplain management, improved clean air and water, and economic growth. In Virginia, our rugged peaks, lush woodlands, unique mountain balds, and peaceful waterways belong to everyone. Our national forests and national parks deserve continued protection and support, not only for their environmental significance but also for the social, economic, and cultural benefits they offer.
Public lands serve as vital habitats for countless plant and animal species, many of which are threatened or endangered. By preserving these spaces, we maintain biodiversity. This is especially important in the southern Appalachian Mountains which lies within a biodiversity hotspot identified by The Nature Conservancy. Virginia’s national forests are home to 40 species of trees, 2,000 species of shrubs and herbaceous plants, 78 species of amphibians and reptiles, 200 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, 2,340 miles of perennial streams, 100 species of freshwater fishes and mussels, and 53 federally listed Threatened or Endangered animal and plant species, some found nowhere else on earth.
Access to public land enhances the quality of life for individuals and families. Whether hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, or simply enjoying the scenery, these areas offer affordable and accessible opportunities for outdoor recreation. The George Washington & Jefferson National Forests (GWJNF) are home to nearly 2,200 miles of trails and 1,700 miles of open roads. Studies consistently show that spending time in nature improves physical health, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of community. Public lands help bridge social gaps by providing everyone, regardless of income, with a place to connect with the outdoors.
Public lands fuel local economies by attracting tourists, supporting small businesses, and creating jobs in recreation, hospitality, and conservation. These economic benefits often ripple through surrounding rural communities, helping sustain livelihoods, and encourage responsible development. Shenandoah National Park reported 1.7 million visitors in 2024 who spent $132 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $175 million.
Despite their importance, public lands face significant threats, now more than ever. Inadequate staffing and funding, development and resource extraction pressures, and policies that prioritize short-term gain over long-term stewardship are the greatest threats. The elimination of landmark environmental laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Roadless Rule will have devastating consequences on Virginia’s national forest. NEPA, signed into law in 1969 by Richard Nixon, is one of the most important environmental laws in American history. NEPA was bipartisan and respected across the political spectrum because it brought basic accountability to government decisions. NEPA forces the federal government to stop and study the environmental consequences before making major decisions and allow public comment. It doesn’t block progress — it demands that we think before we plow forward. It forces agencies to ask: Is there a safer way? A smarter way? America set the global standard for environmental protection with laws like NEPA, which is a model that has been exported around the world. More than 100 countries have since adopted their own versions of NEPA, because it worked, balancing progress with protection. In March, NEPA was quietly gutted, and new rules are being written by each agency. The Roadless Rule was created in 2001 to protect some of the wildest, least disturbed parts of the national forest system. Announced on Reddish Knob in Augusta County, it is an inventory of large tracts of land on the national forest that have no permanent roads and largely remain undeveloped, totaling 58.5 million acres nationwide. In June, the USDA announced it was beginning the process of repealing the rule. This now puts 394,000 acres of Virginia’s forests at risk, nearly a quarter of the GWJNF.
It is crucial that citizens remain vigilant in defending public areas and conservation efforts. Protecting and investing in these spaces should be a top priority, ensuring that everyone, now and in the future, can enjoy their benefits. We urge you to support initiatives that safeguard public lands, volunteer for trail projects or invasive species removals, and speak out against policies that remove protections. Together, we can preserve these irreplaceable treasures for generations to come.
Public lands serve as vital habitats for countless plant and animal species, many of which are threatened or endangered. By preserving these spaces, we maintain biodiversity. This is especially important in the southern Appalachian Mountains which lies within a biodiversity hotspot identified by The Nature Conservancy. Virginia’s national forests are home to 40 species of trees, 2,000 species of shrubs and herbaceous plants, 78 species of amphibians and reptiles, 200 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, 2,340 miles of perennial streams, 100 species of freshwater fishes and mussels, and 53 federally listed Threatened or Endangered animal and plant species, some found nowhere else on earth.
Access to public land enhances the quality of life for individuals and families. Whether hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, or simply enjoying the scenery, these areas offer affordable and accessible opportunities for outdoor recreation. The George Washington & Jefferson National Forests (GWJNF) are home to nearly 2,200 miles of trails and 1,700 miles of open roads. Studies consistently show that spending time in nature improves physical health, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of community. Public lands help bridge social gaps by providing everyone, regardless of income, with a place to connect with the outdoors.
Public lands fuel local economies by attracting tourists, supporting small businesses, and creating jobs in recreation, hospitality, and conservation. These economic benefits often ripple through surrounding rural communities, helping sustain livelihoods, and encourage responsible development. Shenandoah National Park reported 1.7 million visitors in 2024 who spent $132 million in communities near the park. That spending had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $175 million.
Despite their importance, public lands face significant threats, now more than ever. Inadequate staffing and funding, development and resource extraction pressures, and policies that prioritize short-term gain over long-term stewardship are the greatest threats. The elimination of landmark environmental laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Roadless Rule will have devastating consequences on Virginia’s national forest. NEPA, signed into law in 1969 by Richard Nixon, is one of the most important environmental laws in American history. NEPA was bipartisan and respected across the political spectrum because it brought basic accountability to government decisions. NEPA forces the federal government to stop and study the environmental consequences before making major decisions and allow public comment. It doesn’t block progress — it demands that we think before we plow forward. It forces agencies to ask: Is there a safer way? A smarter way? America set the global standard for environmental protection with laws like NEPA, which is a model that has been exported around the world. More than 100 countries have since adopted their own versions of NEPA, because it worked, balancing progress with protection. In March, NEPA was quietly gutted, and new rules are being written by each agency. The Roadless Rule was created in 2001 to protect some of the wildest, least disturbed parts of the national forest system. Announced on Reddish Knob in Augusta County, it is an inventory of large tracts of land on the national forest that have no permanent roads and largely remain undeveloped, totaling 58.5 million acres nationwide. In June, the USDA announced it was beginning the process of repealing the rule. This now puts 394,000 acres of Virginia’s forests at risk, nearly a quarter of the GWJNF.
It is crucial that citizens remain vigilant in defending public areas and conservation efforts. Protecting and investing in these spaces should be a top priority, ensuring that everyone, now and in the future, can enjoy their benefits. We urge you to support initiatives that safeguard public lands, volunteer for trail projects or invasive species removals, and speak out against policies that remove protections. Together, we can preserve these irreplaceable treasures for generations to come.
VA Wilderness Highlight – Rich Hole and Rough Mountain
Located in the rugged Allegheny Mountains in western Virginia, Rich Hole Wilderness (6,450 acres) and Rough Mountain Wilderness (9,300 acres) span Rough Mountain, Mill Mountain, and Brushy Mountain. Though nearly contiguous, Rich Hole and Rough Mountain Wilderness areas are quite different.
Rough Mountain, with its monolithic peak, Griffith Knob, rises sharply from the banks of the Cowpasture River to dominate the surrounding landscape. The dry south-facing slopes of Rough Mountain are home to a 3,000-acre Central Appalachian Shale Barren. This globally uncommon natural community hosts several rare and endangered plants.
To the east, the lush Rich Hole Wilderness protects the watershed for the rhododendron-lined North Branch of Simpson Creek, a native trout stream. In the upper watershed is a 1,337-acre tract of old-growth cove hardwood forest that was designated in 1974 as the Rich Hole National Natural Landmark (NNL), one of only 10 NNLs in Virginia. Rich Hole was named for the deep, rich soils in the natural bowls of the upper watershed. Rich Hole Trail follows the stream up to the cove hardwoods and offers outstanding scenic views from rock outcrops high on Brushy Mountain.
Both Wilderness areas support a dense population of black bear and provide outstanding opportunities for solitude.
The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, which includes a 4,600-acre addition to the Rich Hole Wilderness and a 1,000-acre addition to the Rough Mountain Wilderness, in southeastern Bath County, will create a nearly contiguous Wilderness block of almost 21,000 acres, which will be one of the largest well-protected areas on the GWNF.
These Wilderness Areas will provide an excellent refuge for wildlife, protect water quality in the pristine Cowpasture River, one of the cleanest and healthiest rivers in the Southeast; and provide other scenic and recreational benefits.
Rough Mountain, with its monolithic peak, Griffith Knob, rises sharply from the banks of the Cowpasture River to dominate the surrounding landscape. The dry south-facing slopes of Rough Mountain are home to a 3,000-acre Central Appalachian Shale Barren. This globally uncommon natural community hosts several rare and endangered plants.
To the east, the lush Rich Hole Wilderness protects the watershed for the rhododendron-lined North Branch of Simpson Creek, a native trout stream. In the upper watershed is a 1,337-acre tract of old-growth cove hardwood forest that was designated in 1974 as the Rich Hole National Natural Landmark (NNL), one of only 10 NNLs in Virginia. Rich Hole was named for the deep, rich soils in the natural bowls of the upper watershed. Rich Hole Trail follows the stream up to the cove hardwoods and offers outstanding scenic views from rock outcrops high on Brushy Mountain.
Both Wilderness areas support a dense population of black bear and provide outstanding opportunities for solitude.
The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, which includes a 4,600-acre addition to the Rich Hole Wilderness and a 1,000-acre addition to the Rough Mountain Wilderness, in southeastern Bath County, will create a nearly contiguous Wilderness block of almost 21,000 acres, which will be one of the largest well-protected areas on the GWNF.
These Wilderness Areas will provide an excellent refuge for wildlife, protect water quality in the pristine Cowpasture River, one of the cleanest and healthiest rivers in the Southeast; and provide other scenic and recreational benefits.
Above photo: Mark Miller at the Rich Hole Trail overlook by The PEW Charitable Trusts
VWC in the News
VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens was interviewed by Politico for an article on the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA), click here to read more.
“This administration is redefining what we call an emergency,” said Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, executive director of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, a nonprofit environmental group."
“This administration is redefining what we call an emergency,” said Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, executive director of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, a nonprofit environmental group."
VWC staff visited Reddish Knob and Switzer Dam with Oliver Milman, a reporter with The Guardian, to talk about Roadless Areas. Click here to read his article.
Middle: VWC Executive Director Ellen Stuart-Haentjens with journalist Oliver Milman on the top of Reddish Knob