WILD VIRGINIA works to protect wilderness. We hope you’ll take a look and join our efforts to protect some of the last wild places in eastern North America, right here in Virginia.

Thanks to everyone who came to the 2012 festival!

Public Opinion is Clear – No Horizontal Drilling in the George Washington NF

More than 53,000 comments from across the country were submitted in 2011 on the draft management plan for the GWNF. Analysis of the comments by Shenandoah Valley Network and the Land, Air, Water Stewardship Action Group is striking. More than 95 percent of the comments expressed support for the ban on horizontal drilling, which would prevent the worst examples of natural gas hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Of the almost 6,700 comments from Virginia residents, 70 percent supported the ban. Read articles about the analysis in the Richmond Times Dispatch and Augusta Free Press.  Read more about the topic of fracking, and why it should not be permitted in our national forests.

Management Plan for George Washington National Forest

Many thanks to those of you who submitted comments on the draft plan to the U.S. Forest Service prior to the October 17, 2011 deadline.  Our Forest Plan Comments page has the comments that Wild Virginia submitted on the draft plan, as well as comments submitted earlier in the planning process.  The final management plan for the GWNF could be released as early as July, 2012.  Please visit this site to stay informed.  Read more . . .

Leadership Change at George Washington National Forest

Tom Speaks has been selected as the new Forest Supervisor for the GWNF. He has been the Forest Supervisor for the Cherokee NF in Tennessee since 2004, and begins work on the GWNF on May 21, 2012. (read more).  He replaces Maureen Hyzer, who served as Forest Supervisor for the GWNF since 2005.  In February 2012, she began a new position as Deputy Regional Forester in Portland, Oregon. (read more)

New Planning Rule for National Forests

On January 26, 2012, the new regulations for developing management plans on the 193 million acres of national forests and  grasslands were released. They will replace the 1982 planning rules when they are finalized in the next few months. The Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, along with other relevant information, is viewable on the Forest Service website. The text of the regulation can be found here.

The new planning rule has received mixed reviews from the conservation community.  A New York Times article offers some perspective. Read reactions from The Wilderness Society, the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, and Sierra Club.

 Protection of Roadless Areas

On October 21, 2011, a federal Court of Appeals overturned an earlier court decision that limited legal protection of Inventoried Roadless Areas in our national forests. This decision makes the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule the law of land in all states except Idaho – and is tremendous news! Read the New York Times article about the court decision, or visit the Earthjustice website.Earthjustice has performed much of the legal work on this issue for more than a decade now.

In the long term, legislation is needed to permanently protect our roadless areas and put a halt to the never-ending legal battles.  A terrible piece of legislation, the Wilderness and Roadless Release Act of 2011 (HR 1581), was recently introduced in the House of Representatives.  Read our letter to Rep. Robert Hurt opposing this bill.

Report Released on Non-native Invasive Plants in Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness Area

July 2011 – Wild Virginia has just released its report on NNIP in Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness Area.  Read more . . .

Photo Contest Winners are Announced!

See the four winning photographs from 2011 and read more here . . .

Newspaper Coverage of Forest Planning

The Charlottesville Daily Progress and Lynchburg News and Advance ran an op-ed article by Wild Virginia’s Conservation Director, David Hannah, on May 29, 2011, just after the draft forest plan was released.  Click here to see the article.  A follow-up Letter to the Editor from Wild Virginia Board member Ernie Reed was published on June 21.

The September 3, 2011 edition of the Staunton News Leader included an article about the draft forest plan.  Click here to view it.  Earlier this year, on February 24, the Daily Progress published a Letter to the Editor from David about hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

 Wild Virginia Joins 1% For The Planet

We are excited about becoming a non-profit member of this great organization, working for positive steps to improve the global environment.  Click on the logo below to view the website.

All Greenhouse Gas Emissions Must be Regulated

In the national clamor to find renewable sources of energy, biomass is being promoted in many corners.  The use of biomass to generate electricity, heat, and other types of energy certainly has much potential.  There are many factors to consider though, as not all biomass production and use is truly sustainable and should not be assumed to be renewable.  Just as with fossil fuels and other organic materials, the burning of biomass emits carbon dioxide.  Analysis of all energy sources, including all forms of biomass, should take into account carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.  (read more)

Support for Drinking Water Protection Continues to Grow

Through March of 2010, 16 localities and numerous other organizations have adopted resolutions calling for improved management of drinking water resources in the George Washington National Forest.  Information forming the basis for the resolutions comes from the recently released report by Wild Virginia, The State of Our Water: Managing and Protecting the Drinking Water Resources of the George Washington National Forest.  Click here to learn more about the study and report.  The list of organizations that have submitted resolutions, and some of the resolutions, are viewable here.  The Shenandoah Valley Network and other partners have been instrumental in making many communities aware of the critical link between the GWNF and local drinking water.

New Wilderness Areas in Virginia!

The long-awaited Virginia Ridge and Valley Act has finally come to fruition.  It was part of a large, public lands bill signed into law in March 2009, permanently protecting an additional 53,000 acres in the Jefferson National Forest in southwest Virginia.  We should celebrate the many years of hard work it took to make this happen.  Click here to read more.

Newspaper Coverage of Forest Planning

The cover story of the Feb. 15, 2009 Charlottesville Daily Progress was an interesting and informative article about forest planning on the George Washington National Forest, with an emphasis on wilderness areas.  Media coverage on this process has been lacking to date.  Wild Virginia and others are mentioned as being active participants.  Click here to see the article.  The article was also carried in the Waynesboro News Virginian and Lynchburg News and Advance.

The Roadless Areas in our National Forests remain at risk from logging and mining.

View the 2008 “Wild At Heart” report, released in conjunction with the Center for Biological Diversity, to learn more.

Summer 2011 Newsletter is online here.

Upcoming Hikes and Outings are listed listed here.  We hope to see you in the woods!