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FOREST-WIDE
Maureen Hyzer, Forest Supervisor
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests,
5162 Valleypointe Pkwy., Roanoke,Va. 24019
(540) 265-5100
http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/gwj/
updated July 30, 2009
CURRENT AND UPCOMING
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)
George Washington National Forest
The Forest Service officially launched the forest planning
process for the 1.1 million acre George Washington National
Forest on February 15, 2007. Because the Forest Service relied on
Bush administration planning rules that were found to be illegal
by federal courts two times, the plan was delayed from 2007
through early 2008 and is now being delayed again, as of the
Summer of 2009. See http://www.virginiaforestwatch.org/national.shtml
“Involving the Citizens in Long-term Planning Decisions.”
Conservationists are engaging for the new planning process by
reaching out to diverse groups to inform them about the value of
the George Washington National Forest as an environmental and
recreational resource. One objective of forest advocates in this
planning process is to encourage restoration of the ecological
health of the forest. If you know of someone who would like to
learn more about the George Washington National Forest and how to
protect it, let us know! The environmental organizations engaged
in this effort at this time include Virginia Forest Watch, Wild
Virginia, Virginia Wilderness Committee, Southern Environmental
Law Center, Wildlaw, Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition, The
Wilderness Society and the Sierra Club.For more information,
please visit our George
Washington National Forest Plan Revision Page
The plan revision will determine the next ten
to fifteen years of management
on the GWNF…. for GOOD or BAD. If you want to see a better
GWNF for yourself, or your children, or your grandchildren, then
you need to get involved today.
Wind Power Proposals, Jefferson National Forest
Renewable sources of energy, like wind and solar power, are
needed to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels in Virginia, but
may be just a drop in the bucket if conservation of energy does
not become more widespread in our society. Neighboring states
like West Virginia and Maryland have seen an upsurge in permit
requests for large-scale wind power projects, many on prominent
ridgetops and other sensitive areas. Even with advances in
turbines, there have been mass kills of migratory birds at some
Central Appalachian wind power sites. Virginia's mountains may
also see its first wind farm proposals soon. We need to find
alternative energy sources without compromising firm protection
of public lands, scenic ridgetops, and wildlife. Look for more
updates on this issue later.
RESOURCES
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.
Virginia Forest Watch Wind Energy Policy
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