WVEC Action AlertFebruary 16, 2006Help stop the anti-wilderness movement in the WV legislature! Dear Friend of West Virginia’s Wild Places: We need your help! Although concerned West Virginians were successful in getting a resolution in the state legislature that opposes any new wilderness designations on the Monongahela National Forest taken off of the Senate Natural Resource Committee’s agenda this week, it is only a postponement. This harmful resolution (SCR 13 ) will be on the committee’s agenda next Monday so we need to act today! The good news is you now have some time to let committee members know that West Virginians support protecting special places in the Mon through wilderness designation. We need to keep the pressure on and there are a number of ways we can do that:
Senate Natural Resource Committee Members Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 (SCR 13), the anti-wilderness resolution is bad for West Virginia’s environment, economy and future. Here are just a few reasons to oppose SCR 13: 1. IT IGNORES THE WISHES OF WEST VIRGINIANS Record numbers of West Virginias recently commented on the Forest Service’s new plan for the Mon – 15,000 total comments. The overwhelming majority of comments (over 90 percent) called for more wilderness with many of them highlighting special places that should be designated as wilderness including, Dolly Sods North, the Cranberry Wilderness Expansion, Roaring Plains, Seneca Creek, Spice Run and Big Draft. SCR 13 could prevent these places from being protected 2. IT WILL LIMIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR TOURISM ECONOMY Hundreds-of-thousands-of-outdoor enthusiasts come to the Mon every year to enjoy our world-class recreational opportunities. Many of those are found in the Mon’s remaining roadless wild areas. Hunters, anglers, backpackers, horse packers hikers and campers all flock to the Mon’s wilderness areas – special places loved by people throughout the state and the region like Dolly Sods and the Cranberry Wilderness. SCR 13 could prevent us from ensuring that other wild areas on the forest are permanently protected and will ultimately limit recreational opportunities on the forest. According to a recent study conducted for the WV Division of Tourism, Tourism is growing at a rate of 11.4% since 2004, making it the fastest growing sector of our economy 3. WILDERNESS WILL NOT AFFECT TIMBER OR REVENUE RECEIVED BY COUNTIES Because wilderness designations can only occur on existing federal lands they do not change land ownership and therefore do not affect Federal PILT payments or other revenue sources going to counties. All counties containing proposed wilderness areas get a fixed amount of revenue (“county payments”) because they contain Mon forest lands, regardless of how many trees are cut on the national forest. Wilderness protection is simply a way to keep well-loved wild places in the Monongahela National Forest just the way they are. SCR 13 would unwisely and unfairly restrict our ability to conserve West Virginia’s spectacular wild country and pass it along to future generations. Thanks and stay tuned! Matt Keller
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