Let us keep you posted on upcoming events, hikes, and campaigns! Our mission is to work together to protect the wilderness so can all enjoy it.



WILD VIRGINIA is a non-profit organization. We depend on your support to protect the native plants and animals of Virginia. Please give now! Click below to make a secure donation!


Forest Planning for the George Washington National Forest is ongoing. For more information please see our GWNF Forest Planning program page.

The 3rd ANNUAL TREEHUGGERS BALL held Saturday, May 10, 2008 to benefit Wild Virginia and Living Education Center for Ecology and the Arts was a great success and a lot of fun. We raised over $4,300 for two great organizations.

Many thanks to our sponsors: Crutchfield, Lithic Construction and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports.
See the Previous Events page for more details.


Botanizing with Bob

Wild Virginia members listen to botanist Robert Hunsicker as he explains how to identify a specific plant. This trip to the Paddy Run Timber Sale yielded new locations for state threatened species and helped Wild Virginia convince the Forest Service to reduce the scope of the logging. Join us on one of our upcoming events!


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.

Support for Drinking Water Protection Continues to Grow

Through mid-June of 2009, 14 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. 

Forest Planning for the George Washington National Forest is ongoing. A draft Forest Plan is likely to be released in June 2009. The U.S. Forest Service established new planning regulations to replace those found to be illegal by a federal appeals court in March 2007. Despite a new administration and regulatory uncertainty, planning continues for the GWNF.  (read more)

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.

Spring 2009 Newsletter is online here.

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

Recent Stories
January 6, 2009
The State of Our Water

The State of Our Water: Managing and Protecting the Drinking Water Resources of the George Washington National Forest:
In December 2008, Wild Virginia completed a study of the drinking water resources of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF). The GWNF is a very important regional and local source of drinking water. Twenty-two localities in western Virginia [...]

December 17, 2008
Wood Turtle Named to 10 Most Endangered List

The Wood Turtle was named one of the nation’s Top 10 Species in Need of Protection by the Endangered Species Coalition. Click here to see the December 17, 2008 Press Release announcing this dubious honor. Visit the Endangered Species Coalition website, www.stopextinction.org, to read more about the nine other needy species

For many years, Wild [...]