WV Public Lands: September Edition
West Virginians for Public Lands
September 2024
Did You Hear About This Victory for Public Lands?
What you see from this iconic Lindy Point lookout, picured above, is now public lands!
The Mon. National Forest is purchasing 2,700 acres of unique land and permanently protecting the Blackwater Canyon! Here’s WBOY news coverage.
This purchase includes the lands you see from Lindy Point, one of the iconic views in West Virginia.
The purchase is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. YOUR advocacy for years has helped fully fund and authorize this Fund. A great reward for years of your advocacy. Thank you!
Two Quick Actions for Our Wild & Wonderful Forests
You’ll notice that there are TWO opportunities to comment on Forest Service planning in this issue. We want to take a moment to explain the processes – and why they are a bit different for each comment.
First, the Forest Service wants to restore red spruce to its historic habitat in the Mon Forest. Ultimately, the Forest Service will do a study called an “Environmental Assessment” (EA). They are now taking “scoping comments” which is your chance to tell the Forest Service WHAT to study!
Second, we all know older and old-growth trees and forest areas are vital for carbon storage and for healthy forest ecosystems. The Forest Service has a proposal to amend all 128 Forest Plans to protect older and old growth. The Forest Service has done its study – called an “Environmental Impact Statement” – and you have a chance to comment on this study, and what is missing to safeguard our Mon Forest.
Your participation is essential to ensure our WV National Forests are well managed. As always, we’ve made it simple for you to add your voice to our letter. There is a linked button below for each project with more details about red spruce and old growth.
Join us in letting the Forest Service know your opinions. Please act today!
It is Not Just Public Forests: Help for Your Private Forest
Private Forest
Healthy forests, clean water, and thriving wildlife and ecosystems do not end at the edges of public lands. Private forest owners — with an average holding of 40 acres — own more than half of WV forested areas.
If a private forest owner has more than 30 acres of forest, they may be eligible for the Family Forest Carbon Program. This program permits the forest owners to access private carbon markets — and have guaranteed income from storing carbon and protecting that private forest. The family forest owner will have access to management plans and other expert advice. Click the link to learn more!
Mon Forest Headwaters: How Should We Protect Forested Waterways?
The U.S. Forest Service identified 16 waterways within the Monongahela National Forest — from the Blackwater River to the Williams River — as eligible for Wild and Scenic designation. Studies in the 1980s and 1990s found that these 16 free-flowing waterways had one or more outstanding remarkable values.
Scenery, recreation, and species and habitat protections are some of the many characteristics that permanent safeguards can ensure will be available for future generations. The National Park Service can tell you more about outstanding remarkable values.
Click here for more information about the importance of Mon Forest Headwaters. We’ve been asking the question: What is the best way to protect our precious and irreplaceable Mon Forest Headwaters? We also want to hear YOUR opinion: tell us your concerns and ideas about permanent protections for Mon Forest Headwaters.