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VAFW Newsletter: July 2009
In this issue:
- Major Milestone: Virginia Wild and National Scenic Areas protected
- Investing in Sustainable Forestry Workshop, 7/15/09
- Development Pressure Looming in Seven Mountain Treasure areas
- New Logger Notification Process
- State of the Birds Report
- Update on the George Washington National Forest
- Doing Good: Volunteer Projects by a Sampling of Virginia Groups
- This year's Tour de Cut
- plus lots more . . .
To download this issue and previous issues, please visit our newsletter section.
April 2, 2009:
Support the Act to Save
America's Forests. The
Act to Save America's Forests is one of the largest,
most comprehensive pieces of forest protection and restoration
legislation ever considered by the U.S. House of Representatives
and the U.S. Senate. The bill has been supported by many
prominent scientists, including Jane Goodall, E.O. Wilson, Dr.
Peter Raven, and others. In the current bill, seven of the "special areas" to be protected include Virginia Mountain Treasure areas like Dismal Creek, Bear Creek, Stone Coal Creek, Terrapin Mountain, Wilson Mountain, Whitetop Mountain, and Feathercamp areas in the Jefferson National Forest.
Virginia Ridge and Valley
Act signed: On March 30, President Barack Obama signed
legislation, which included designating almost 43,000 acres as
Wilderness and more than 10,000 acreas as National Scenic Areas
in Virginia's Jefferson National Forest. VAFW thanks all those
who helped bring about this protection. On March 25, the U.S.
House passed The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act on a vote of
285-140. On March 19, the U.S. Senate pased the bill on a vote of
77-20. View VAFW Press Release. (includes
photos, maps)
March 5, 2009: We have updated our Logger Notification List to
include 2008 notifications. We have also updated our Water
Quality Spreadsheets to include regional violations for 2008.
Jan. 30, 2009: Send Comments on GW National Forest Plan Revision Help protect and preserve the Natural Wonders and Ecological Integrity of the George Washington National Forest. - a notice from our friends at the Sierra Club.
Jan. 30, 2009: Gone With The Windmills? - Open letter to President Obama about wind turbines and forests from nature writer and VAFW board member Chris Bolgiano.
Dec. 18, 2008: Wood Turtle Makes Top 10 List
of Species in Need of Protection - New report highlights
nation’s species in danger of extinction -
Charlottesville, VA – The wood turtle is one of the most
in-need species for protection under the Endangered Species Act,
according to a report released today by the Endangered Species
Coalition. The report, “Without a Net: Top Ten Wildlife,
Fish and Plants in Need of Endangered Species Act
Protection,” demonstrates the critical need to reinvigorate
the process under the Endangered Species Act used to protect our
nation’s species on the brink of extinction. Read VAFW Press
Release and link to Report
Dec. 17, 2008: Conservation Groups Call on the
Agriculture Sec. Nominee to Set New Direction for Forest Service;
Reverse Bush’s Damaging Legacy in the First 100 Days
- President-elect Obama announced today the nomination of former
Governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack as the new Secretary of
Agriculture. Nearly 100 conservation organizations representing
over 1.5 million members and citizens from around the country
call on Vilsack to reverse damaging policies promulgated by the
Bush administration and set a new course for the U.S. Forest
Service. Read
VAFW Press Release
George Washington National Forest
Plan Revision:
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Jan. 30, 2009: Send Comments on GW National Forest Plan Revision Help protect and preserve the Natural Wonders and Ecological Integrity of the George Washington National Forest. - a notice from our friends at the Sierra Club.
More Details: GWNF Plan Revision section
The Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) is devoted to advancing a common, environmentally sound vision for Virginia. VCN is made up of 100 member organizations, including Virginia Forest Watch, committed to protecting Virginia's natural resources.  View VCN Action Alerts.
Virginia Forest Watch Wind Energy Policy
Factsheet: Industrial Wind Factories in George Washington National Forest
Download
the Recycled Fiber Fact Sheet created by the Environmental
Paper Network.
America's Endangered National Forests Report
National Forests: Lumber, Landfill or Living Legacy?
This report delivers an on-the-ground look at some of the country's most endangered national forests, including Virginia's George Washington & Jefferson National Forests.
Read the report
July 25, 2005: "And Still
They Fall" - A Report on Old Growth Logging in the
George Washington National Forest released by Virginia Forest
Watch, WildLaw, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project, Wild
Virginia and the Sierra Club. The report addresses the failure of
the Forest Service to conserve and restore old growth forest
communities in the Southeast, highlighting the Hoover Creek
Timber Sale as a case study.
June 16, 2005: Sierra Club and Virginia Forest Watch Press Release: NEW REPORT REVEALS THAT OLD GROWTH FORESTS WERE CUT AT HOOVER CREEK - Sierra Club and Virginia Forest Watch to Lead "Tour de Cut" on Saturday June 18
Highlighting Threats to Old Growth & Roadless Areas in Virginia
National Forests
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Seven High Priority Areas:
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Learn about our Seven High Priority Projects in Virginia
Mountain Treasure Areas and what you can do save these
areas and protect the natural features in them
(1) Central Alleghany Timber Project - formerly Big Run
Timber Sale – (Alleghany Co., James River Ranger District)
Area affected - Panther Knob mountain treasure area.
(2) Tims Draft timber sale
– (Augusta Co., North River Ranger District)
Area affected – Jerkemtight-Benson Run mountain treasure
area.
(3) Proposed industrial-scale wind
installation in two unroaded areas– (Shenandoah/
Rockingham Cos.)
Area affected - Church Mountain and Falls Ridge mountain treasure
areas.
(4) Back Draft timber sale
– (Bath and August Cos., North River Ranger District)
Area affected - Walker Mountain treasure area
(5) Marshall Run/Rocky
Spur timber sales – (Rockingham Co., North River Ranger
District)
Area affected -Beech Lick Knob mountain treasure area
(6) Wells Branch
timber sale – (Lee and Wise Cos., Clinch Ranger
District)
Area affected - Roaring Branch mountain treasure area
(7) North Fork of
Pound gas development – (Wise Co., Clinch Ranger
District)
Area affected - North Fork of Pound mountain treasure area
No upcoming events currently listed. Please check back.
More info: Events Section
_______________________
A Virginia Landowner's Guide
to Sustainable Forest Management
A website created by VAFW,
dedicated to promoting sustainable foresty on private lands in
Virginia is up and running. You'll find news and events relating
to forest management, links to helpful sites, and a forum where
landowners, forestry professionals, and conservation minded
people can exchange ideas.
Visit us at www.forestlandownerva.com
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Thunder Ridge from north.
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A Birds Eye View
of Virginia
Virginia Forest Watch was fortunate to be able to fly with the aviation conservation organization called SouthWings on July 7, 2006. We have posted a few photos showing the incredible beauty of Virginia's public and private lands - and some of the threats to them. We have provided two versions of the slide show: Larger photos for high speed internet | Reduced size photos for slow speed internet
Find out what is happening on a National
Forest Ranger
District near you:
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Please check out our National Forest Monitoring section to see what's happening in each Ranger District of the GW&JNF. Updated regularly with pictures, project descriptions, and opportunites for you to comment.
Neighborhood Forest Watch: Please Let Us Know About Logging Jobs!
Logger Notification List
- This is a list provided to us by the Virginia Department of Forestry
of the loggers that notify them via their "logger
notification hot line" with information on jobs that they
are about to begin or have just begun.
We also post the Virginia Department of Forestry spreadsheets indicating violations of Virginia's Water Quality Laws. These spreadsheets are divided into regions.
FREE from Appalachian
Voices. The second edition of “Managing Your Woodlands: A Guide for Southern
Appalachian Landowners” with companion DVD
“Landowner’s Guide to Sustainable Forestry:
Maximizing Profits While Protecting Water Quality”. More Details
Special Donor Gift Offers
Virginia Forest Watch is very pleased to be able to offer several fine Donor Gifts, which have been generously donated to us by the authors.
Limited amount available! More Details.
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