Wilderness advocates laud Boucher, Warner for protecting Virginia’s natural heritage

A broad coalition of wilderness supporters in Virginia praised Rep. Rick Boucher and Sen. John Warner for introducing bills in the House and Senate today that would permanently protect more than 54,000 acres of public lands in the mountain forests of Southwest Virginia. The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007 would establish six new wilderness areas, a wilderness study area and two new scenic areas, as well as expand several existing wilderness areas in the Jefferson National Forest.

Sen. Jim Webb has signed onto the Senate bill as a co-sponsor, while Reps. Jo Ann Davis, Tom Davis, Jim Moran, Bobby Scott and Frank Wolf are co-sponsors of the House version. Each of the proposed wilderness area and scenic area designations has been endorsed by either the U.S. Forest Service or the Board of Supervisors of the county in which the area would be located.

The bill, originally introduced in 2004, has sustained strong support from a wide array of local and state officials, businesses, faith organizations, tourism and recreation groups, conservation organizations and individuals, including: Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Garden Club of Virginia and several of its local chapters, the Appalachian Trail Conference, Mt. Rogers Outfitters and Blue Ridge Outdoors outfitters, Virginia Audubon Council, Virginia Council of Trout Unlimited, the Committee on Stewardship of the Creation, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, Scenic America, and the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

“Our tourists are starved for a wilderness experience as more and more seek outdoor recreation opportunities in their travels,” said Alisa Bailey, president of the Virginia Tourism Corporation. “The promise of increasing economic development in Virginia through tourism is vested in the preservation of our natural and scenic resources for recreation.”

“Virginians are truly fortunate to have Representative Boucher and Senator Warner seeking to secure permanent protection for these outstanding and treasured natural resources, which belong to all of us,” said Jim Murray, president of the Virginia Wilderness Committee. “Protecting these wild forests will ensure economic vitality in nearby communities by providing recreation opportunities for hunters, hikers, birders, anglers and others, as well as provide clean water, scenic beauty and undisturbed forest ecosystems.”