Monongahela National Forest is 98 Years Old

Seneca Rocks, Monongahela National Forest

From WV Public Lands via WV Rivers Coalition, April 27, 2018

Saturday April 28th marks the 98th birthday of the Monongahela National Forest. The “Mon” was established in 1920 after the Weeks Act allowed the Forest Service to purchase land in the eastern US for the creation of new national forests to protect Appalachian headwaters. You can celebrate the Mon at “Discover Nature Day” this Saturday, 4/28, at Seneca Rocks. Activities include the Garlic Mustard Challenge and live snakes and birds of prey!

Roadless Rule Still Challenged, Threatening Wild Places

Attacks on the Forest Service’s Roadless Rule continue after West Virginians for Public Lands partners helped beat back controversial anti-roadless “riders” in the 2018 federal budget. The State of Alaska has petitioned the Forest Service to open up remote backcountry areas to taxpayer-subsidized road building for commercial development of public lands. WVPL partners signed on to a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue asking him to deny Alaska’s petition. Exempting certain forests or states from Roadless Rule protections could jeopardize roadless areas here in the Mountain State.

Volunteers Provide A Huge Benefit

Four West Virginia University students are making a difference for public lands. Emily McDougal, president of the Sierra Club Student Coalition, Joellen Stivala, Josh Bauer, and Haley Whitham came away from WVPL’s volunteer leadership workshop in March motivated to inspire their fellow college students to protect West Virginia’s public lands. Recently, they represented the WVPL alliance at WVU’s Earth Day Celebration. Thanks for your support and action!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

See also: West Virginia and Pennsylvania’s Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Corridor