For
Immediate Release: September 18, 2006
Contact: Matt Keller,
West Virginia
Wilderness Coalition
, (304) 864-5530
Forest
Service Releases Final Management Plan for the
Monongahela
National Forest
Key
areas left unprotected; conservationists call on delegation to step in
The
newly released Management Plan for the
Monongahela
National Forest
fails to permanently protect economically and ecologically important natural
areas on the
Forest
. In response, the
West Virginia Wilderness Coalition
is appealing to
West Virginia
lawmakers to introduce legislation protecting the special wild areas left out
of the Forest Service�s final plan.
�We are extremely concerned about the fate of the Mon�s special wild
areas,� says
Matt Keller
Campaign Coordinator with the
West Virginia Wilderness Coalition
. �The vast majority of
West Virginians
who commented on the plan expressed their desire to see much more wilderness on
the Mon than the Forest Service has recommended and it�s unfortunate that
their voices are not reflected in this plan. It�s now up to our
congressional delegation to help fix this situation.�
The forest, over 918,000 acres in federal ownership in 10 counties in
West Virginia
, is the fourth largest National Forest in the 20 northeastern states. It is a
popular tourist destination for people from all parts of the
United States
for hiking, hunting, rafting and fishing and is also home to 9 federally listed
endangered or threatened species.
�
West Virginians
, and people who travel from across the country to use the Mon, overwhelming
support more wilderness on the National Forest,� says Keller. �Of the 13,000
comments recently generated by the Forest Service�s Planning process for the
Monongahela
National Forest
, over 90% called for more wilderness designations than what the Forest Service
recommended.�
The
final plan does not reflect the will of the owners of the Mon, as many of the
Forest
�s most special places are not recommended for congressional wilderness
protection. The Forest Service�s new plan fails to permanently protect areas
such as Seneca Creek, East Fork of Greenbrier, Spice Run, the Dolly Sods
Expansion, Big Draft and other special places. It also fails to recommend
any wilderness in the Greenbrier Watershed which currently has no designated
wilderness and is a source of drinking water for many
West Virginians
.
Protected
public land like wilderness helps diversify and stabilize economies by
attracting and retaining new businesses, residents, and a local workforce, in
addition to generating travel and tourism, one of the fastest growing sectors of
West Virginia
�s economy. A study released last summer by the West Virginia Department of
Tourism showed that tourism is a fast growing sector of our state�s economy;
travel spending by tourists has increased by 11.4 percent per year since 2000,
bringing in $3.4 billion in 2004 alone. This study went on to indicate
that
West Virginia
�s strongest �product� was backcountry recreation which
West Virginia
�s designated wilderness areas are known for. As demand increases, so
should supply.
�Unparalleled outdoor recreation found in the Mon�s wonderful wild lands
plays an important role in ensuring a stable economy for our communities,�
Keller says. �Our state�s natural beauty can help attract new businesses and
skilled workers as well as tourists who bring in money and support industries
from hotels and restaurants to transportation, arts and entertainment.�
According to Keller, although the Forest Service has slightly improved their
final plan by adding a small amount of land back into backcountry area status,
these areas are still at risk for future development. Several
areas proposed by the coalition for wilderness designation will be opened up to
logging in the final plan. �Wilderness
designation is the only way to guarantee future generations will be able to use
and enjoy the Mon just as we do today.�
Keller notes that the solution to this problem lies with the
West Virginia
congressional delegation. �Because wilderness can only be designated by an
act of Congress, we need our Senators and Representatives to work together to
introduce legislation protecting all deserving areas on the
Mon
National Forest
. The people of West Virginia are looking to their leaders in Congress to
permanently protect not only the areas recommend by the Forest Service but such
wild places as Seneca Creek, East Fork of Greenbrier, Spice Run, the Dolly Sods
Expansion, Big Draft and others.�