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America’s Wilderness
Turns 45
Conservationists celebrate
West Virginia’s wilderness, call for more protections
September 3, 2009
Morgantown, WV —Today marks the 45th
anniversary of a conservation landmark — the Wilderness Act. Signed
into law on September 3, 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, this
historic legislation has been used by West Virginians to guarantee
that future generations will be able to use and enjoy our majestic
wilderness areas. Among the first national treasures that gained
immediate protection were the Shining Rock Wilderness in North
Carolina, Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Minnesota and the Great Gulf
Wilderness in New Hampshire. While no areas in WV were immediately
designated with the passage of the Act, the establishment of the
National Preservation System made possible the later designation of
our wilderness areas when legislation was passed in 1975, 1983 and
2009.
Forty-five
years later, the Wilderness Act remains one of the most important
and effective conservation measures enacted, as Americans continue
to push for wilderness protection. Today, the National Wilderness
Preservation System is 109 million acres strong, yet that remains
less than five percent of America’s land mass. Given that Americans
lose 6,000 acres of open space every day, there is still much to be
done.
Since 1978,
conservationists here in West Virginia have worked to protect nine
special areas as wilderness so that future generations will be able
to enjoy our natural wonders.
“We have
several amazing wild places like Dolly Sods, Cranberry and Otter
Creek that West Virginians and scores of out of state visitors will
be enjoying this Labor Day weekend,” said Mike Costello, Campaign
Coordinator for the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition. “We have
added reason to celebrate in that our state’s Congressional
Delegation, led by Congressman Nick Rahall in the House of
Representatives, was successful in passing the Wild Monongahela Act
earlier this year that designated three additional areas and
expanded three others.”
“The
passage of the Wild Monongahela Act was an historic event, but more
work remains to be done to protect the remaining special areas on
the Monongahela National Forest,” stated Marilyn Shoenfeld, Public
Lands Chair for the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. “The Mon’s
wild forests are threatened on numerous fronts and need protection
to keep them just as they are today.”
Protection
of wilderness in West Virginia provides clean air, clean water,
recreational opportunities like hunting and fishing, habitat for
wildlife, and spiritual wellbeing for those who visit or simply
appreciate knowing such wild places still exist.
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California Court decision reinstates
2001 Roadless Rule The Monongahela
National Forest contains over 115,000 acres of protected Wilderness,
but for hundreds of thousands of acres of the remaining wild,
undeveloped land on the Mon, a recent U.S. Circuit Court ruling in
California has brought a protected future one step closer to
reality.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California
has deemed a Bush administration’s changes to the 2001 Roadless Area
Conservation Rule unlawful in a three judge panel’s decision to
reinstate the original regulation. The ruling, which was hailed by
environmental groups, carries significant implications for public
lands nationwide, including roadless areas on the Monongahela
National Forest.
The Roadless Area Conservation Rule was put into place by the
Clinton administration in early 2001, and gave protective status to
around 58.5 million acres of public lands where natural processes
prevail, and few, if any, improved roads exist. Shortly after the
rule’s implementation, the Bush administration sought to undermine
the regulation’s scope, allowing individual states to determine
their own rules pertaining to roadless areas on federal public land.
In 2005, the Bush administration formally
replaced the 2001 rule "with a petitioning process that would allow
Governors an opportunity to seek establishment of management
requirements for National Forest System inventoried roadless areas
within their States."
Click here to
read full story |
Byrd joins efforts to commemorate 45th
Anniversary of Wilderness Act
Washington, D.C. – Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., recently joined
in cosponsoring legislation that would commemorate the signing of
federal legislation that has provided protections for public lands
and wilderness areas throughout the United States.
The
measure passed the Senate unanimously last week.
Click here to read
full story
President Obama proclaims September 2009 National Wilderness Month
Months after signing into law the
2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, President Barack Obama
declared September 2009 National Wilderness Month on September 3,
the 45th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act.
"On March 30, 2009, I signed the Omnibus Public Land Management
Act of 2009, which established the most recent additions to our
Wilderness System. As my Administration continues to prioritize
wilderness protection, we will work closely with the Congress,
organizations, and private citizens to ensure that all stakeholders
can make their voices heard. United by a common purpose of
preserving our precious natural spaces and our wilderness heritage,
we will ensure that future generations inherit the unique gift of
knowing nature's peace,"
Obama remarked.
"I call upon all Americans to visit and enjoy our wilderness
areas, learn more about our wilderness heritage, and explore what
can be done to protect and preserve these precious national
treasures," the president said in the White House proclamation.
Click here to read full proclamation |
Wilderness Coalition now on Facebook!
Join us today!
The West Virginia Wilderness
Coalition has landed on Facebook. Follow the link below to
become a fan today! Connect with fellow activists and receive
important information, alerts and updates. Fans can also
follow Wilderness Coalition events, upload wilderness photos and
more.
West Virginia Wilderness Coalition
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