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!



The winners of our PHOTO CONTEST have been selected. Click on the link to the left to view them and to learn more.

The draft Forest Plan for the George Washington NF was released May 18, 2011. With plans remaining in effect for 10-15 years at a time, it is imperative to develop a plan that will restore the forest, its watersheds, and native wildlife populations while protecting the many special places and recreational opportunities it houses. Please check this site for current information and to become involved!


Botanizing with Bob

Wild Virginia members listen to botanist Robert Hunsucker 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.

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Protection for 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. 

Comment Period Ends - Draft Management Plan for George Washington National Forest

Many thanks to those of you who submitted comments 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 forest planning process.  The final management plan for the GWNF will be released in 2012.  Please visit this site to stay informed.  Read more . . .

Fracking in the GWNF

Read more about this topic.

Photo Contest Winners are Announced!

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

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

WIld Virginia has just released its report on NNIP in Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness Area.  Read more . . .

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.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was a Big Success !

Wild Virginia wants to thank the many volunteers and sponsors who helped organize and host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival for a second year.  We especially want to thank the many people who attended and enjoyed the festival with us, both in Charlottesville and Staunton.  We are very proud that many of you decided to become members of Wild Virginia!

Want to learn more about the event?   Click here for all the details.

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!

Recent Stories
September 8, 2011
Hydraulic Fracturing – “Fracking”

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, has been in the news a great deal recently. The practice has been common in some western states for many years, but has become more widespread in eastern states only during the past decade. (see our Summer 2011 newsletter cover article for more) The draft management plan for the George Washington [...]

June 27, 2011
Non-Native Invasive Plants – Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness

During the growing season of 2010, Wild Virginia conducted a survey for non-native invasive plants (NNIP) in the Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness Area of the George Washington National Forest (GWNF). Two field workers traversed approximately 29 miles of trails and streams within the wilderness area. Three other areas were also surveyed: Mountain House picnic and trailhead [...]

August 25, 2010
All Greenhouse Gas Emissions Must be Regulated

Biomass incineration, the burning of woody and agricultural materials, is often promoted as a significant component of the effort to shift Americans away from our addiction to fossil fuels. It has often been touted as both “renewable” and “carbon-neutral”. But burning any organic material releases carbon dioxide. Scientists, in fact, have pointed out that a [...]