WILD VIRGINIA works to protect the 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.

The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival is Coming !!!

Click here to view the full poster for the 2 night event.

Make plans to join us for an evening of fun with exciting and inspiring films, a raffle of premium outdoor equipment, good fellowship, and some conservation news.  With the help of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, Wild Virginia is hosting this annual film festival at the Vinegar Hill Theater in Charlottesville on the evening of March 24, and at the Visulite Theater in Staunton on the evening of March 25.

Click here for ticket information and more details about the festival.

Please visit our Event Page on Facebook too!

Click here to learn more about the history of the festival, now in its 8th year, and where it is touring in 2010.  You don’t want to pass this up!

Bush-Era Forest Planning Rules are Rejected

Forest Planning for the George Washington National Forest has been halted again, at least temporarily.  On June 30, 2009, the most recent planning rules for national forests, adopted in April 2008, were found to be inadequate by a federal district court judge.  The planning rules do not adequately carry out the National Forest Management Act of 1976.   (read more)

Support for Drinking Water Protection Continues to Grow

Through the end of 2009, 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 “Wild At Heart” report, released in conjunction with the Center for Biological Diversity, to learn more.

ACT NOW TO HELP PROTECT VIRGINIA’S ROADLESS AREAS:
Write a letter to Congress to support the Roadless Area Conservation Act!  Click here to take action.

Winter 2009-10 Newsletter is online here.

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