Protecting our Roadless Areas

Protection of the 58.5 million acres of Roadless Areas in our country’s national forests, including 394,000 acres in Virginia, is vitally important for the long term ecological health of our forests and landscape.  The Roadless Area Conservation Rule has been very effective in conserving these special places since 2001.  Under the Bush administration though, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed many changes to the rule.  If the most recent changes go into effect, state-by-state decisions about management of Roadless Areas would be allowed.  Idaho would be the first state affected, and its 9.3 million acres of public roadless lands would be open to logging and mining.  Colorado and Alaska’s Roadless Areas would be the next affected. 

Wild Virginia has joined the Heritage Forest Campaign, the Center for Biological Diversity, and more than 50 other organizations around the country to tell the Forest Service that the Roadless Area Conservation Rule should not be changed. April 7, 2008 was the deadline for submitting comments to the Forest Service about the proposed rule change for Idaho.  CLICK HERE to view the comments submitted by Wild Virginia

The best way to permanently protect our Roadless Areas is to pass federal legislation to do so.  The Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2007 would do just that. Despite the efforts of Governors Kaine and Warner to protect Virginia's Roadless Areas, they are still at risk. Only Congressional action will protect them permanently. Senators Warner and Webb already support legislation to protect roadless areas. Several Virginia Congressmen have joined them, but several are opposed. They need to hear from you! Tell your Representative to cosponsor HR 2516 The National  Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act.  Click here to "Write your Rep."

For a sample letter to download please download the following:

Sample letter to Congress in support of HR2516 (detailed Word Document) (.RTF Document)
(Short & Sweet Word Document)

If you do not know who your Representative is click here and look in the upper left corner to enter your zip code.

May 6, 2005: Wild Virginia vows fight over repeal of Roadless Area Conservation Rule [read press release]

Wild Virginia garners over 100 signatories on our letter to President Bush supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Rule! [View the letter]

Wild Virginia and Partners' 2004 Report:  Roadless Areas of The Southern Appalachians: What We've lost and What We Stand to Lose



WHAT IS THE ROADLESS AREA CONSERVATION RULE?>>

THE STATUS OF VIRGINIA' S ROADLESS AREAS>>

THE ECONOMICS OF ROADLESS AREAS>>

THE ROADLESS AREA CONSERVATION RULE TIMELINE>>

HELP PROTECT VIRGNIA'S LAST WILD FORESTS>>

For more information on protecting roadless areas visit the Heritage Forest Campaign