Protecting our Roadless Areas

Protection of the 58.5 million acres of Roadless Areas in our country’s national forests, including 394,000 acres in Virginia, is vitally important for the long term ecological health of our forests and landscape. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule has been very effective in conserving these special places since 2001. Under the Bush administration though, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed many changes to the rule. If the most recent changes go into effect, state-by-state decisions about management of Roadless Areas would be allowed. Idaho would be the first state affected, and its 9.3 million acres of public roadless lands would be open to logging and mining. Colorado and Alaska’s Roadless Areas would be the next affected.

Wild Virginia has joined the Heritage Forest Campaign, the Center for Biological Diversity, and more than 50 other organizations around the country to tell the Forest Service that the Roadless Area Conservation Rule should not be changed. April 7, 2008 was the deadline for submitting comments to the Forest Service about the proposed rule change for Idaho. Click here to view the comments submitted by Wild Virginia.

The best way to permanently protect our Roadless Areas is to pass federal legislation to do so. The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2007 would do just that. Despite the efforts of Governors Kaine and Warner to protect Virginia’s Roadless Areas, they are still at risk. Only Congressional action will protect them permanently. Senators Warner and Webb already support legislation to protect roadless areas. Several Virginia Congressmen have joined them, but several are opposed.

Your Virginia Congressmen need to hear from you!

Tell your Representative to cosponsor HR 2516 The National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act. To view the act go to the Library of Congress database Thomas and enter bill number HR 2516.

May 6, 2005: Wild Virginia vows fight over repeal of Roadless Area Conservation Rule (read press release)

Wild Virginia garners over 100 signatories on our letter to President Bush supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Rule! (view the letter)

Wild Virginia and Partners’ 2004 Report: Roadless Areas of The Southern Appalachians: What We’ve Lost and What We Stand to Lose

Click here to “Write your Representative” (This link will allow you to look up your Representative, and send them a message).

Here is a sample letter to Congress in support of HR 2516.

Here is a sample letter to Congress in support of HR 2516.

Wild Virginia’s Response to HR 2516 The National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act

More Information on Roadless Areas

About the Roadless Area Conservation Rule

The Status of Virginia’s Roadless Areas

The Economics of Roadless Areas

The Roadless Areas Conservation Rule Timeline

How You Can Help Protect Virginia’s Last Wild Forests

For more information on protecting roadless areas visit the Heritage Forest Campaign