To many people, the mountains of western Virginia conjure up images of wildness — remote and inaccessible mountaintops, dense forests, wild animals, raging rivers, extreme weather, rugged landscapes shrouded in fog, and more. For more than a decade, Wild Virginia (formerly known as Shenandoah Ecosystems Defense Group) has fought to keep these images a reality.

Wild Virginia is dedicated to preserving wild forest ecosystems in Virginia’s two national forests — the Jefferson and George Washington. At almost 1.8 million total acres combined (including 123,384 acres in West Virginia), the opportunity for meaningful conservation is real. Since a Forest Plan for the Jefferson National Forest was approved in 2003, Wild Virginia’s efforts have focused on the George Washington National Forest.

Wild Virginia works to ensure the ecological integrity and biological diversity of our national forests are maintained for future generations. In addition to ongoing efforts to monitor U.S. Forest Service activities and projects, informing and mobilizing citizens, and encouraging people to enjoy their forests through a monthly outings program, Wild Virginia has set the following conservation priorities for 2008 and beyond:

• permanently protecting the Roadless Areas in our national forests
• educating citizens about the importance of the national forests as a source of public drinking water, and garnering involvement in working with the Forest Service on the issue
• working with the Forest Service, the public and all interested parties to revise the Forest Plan for the George Washington National Forest

The tale of roadless area protection, Wild Virginia’s top conservation priority, is a long and twisting one. The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was established by the Clinton Administration in 2001. Since that time, the Bush administration has made a number of changes to soften the rule and allow more direct management of the areas. The most recent change to the rule was deemed illegal by a federal court judge in November 2006. The fate of roadless areas should not be determined by changing administrations, more legal challenges and future judicial interpretations. Federal legislation is the safest and most appropriate manner to permanently protect roadless areas.

The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2007 was introduced on May 24 in both houses of Congress. Senators John Warner and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced the bill in the Senate (S. 1478), and Jim Webb was one of 17 original co-sponsors. There are currently 148 co-sponsors of the bill in the House (H.R. 2516), including three Virginia representatives — Rick Boucher (9th Dist.), Jim Moran (8th Dist.), and Bob Scott (3rd Dist.). This bill will protect the approximately 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas in all our national forests. Roughly 394,000 acres in Virginia’s two national forests will be protected. Wild Virginia and many other conservation organizations strongly endorse this legislation. Please contact members of Congress to urge their support. You may visit Wild Virginia’s website, www.wildvirginia.org, to download a sample letter and to get contact information for members of the U.S. Congress.

The roadless area bill has tremendous potential to protect existing special places while creating a foundation upon which genuine forest restoration can occur. Prohibiting new roads and other types of development (and the logging that usually accompanies it) will help restore large blocks of mature forest where human disturbance is minimized. Surrounded as they are by intensely managed forest and private land that continues to be developed, these roadless areas are truly “islands” of quality forest and habitat in a “sea” of disturbance. The biological diversity, air and water quality, aesthetics, recreational opportunities, and local economies in our Southern Appalachians will be greatly enhanced with passage of this bill.

Working with legislators and agency employees, even on the most critical of issues, can sometimes leave concerned citizens and dedicated conservationists feeling somewhat unfulfilled. That is one reason why Wild Virginia sponsors monthly outings, which are usually day hikes to some of the beautiful spots our mountains have to offer. Clearing the mind and cleansing the spirit are encouraged. The hikes are free and open to anyone who is interested and physically fit enough to enjoy them. Visit http://wildvirginia.org/programsRecreation.html to read descriptions of upcoming hikes and see pictures of past ones.

To get involved or learn more about Wild Virginia, contact Conservation Director David Hannah at P.O. Box 1065, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, or 434-971-1553, or dhannah@wildvirginia.org, or visit www.wildvirginia.org.