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America’s Wilderness Turns 45
Conservationists celebrate West Virginia’s wilderness, call for
more protections
September 2, 2009
Morgantown, WV —Tomorrow
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.
Recognizing the
importance of the Wilderness Act to our nation, the U.S. Senate
recently passed a resolution, cosponsored by West Virginia’s own
Robert C. Byrd, commemorating the 45th Anniversary of
this groundbreaking measure.
The resolution boasts that the Senate
“recognizes and commends the extraordinary work of the individuals
and organizations involved in building the National Wilderness
Preservation System; and is grateful for the wilderness, a
tremendous asset the United States continues to preserve as a gift
to future generations of the United States.”
“In these times of
heated, divisive issues s and political arguing, one thing that
brings people from all backgrounds, all regions, all sides of the
political aisle together is the goal of protecting more of our
special wild places for those who will come after us.” remarked
Karen Grubb, Conservation Chair with the West Virginia Chapter of
Sierra Club.
The Monongahela National Forest currently has eight wilderness
areas: Big Draft, Cranberry, Dolly Sods, Laurel Fork North and
South, Otter Creek, Roaring Plains West, Spice Run.
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