 In March, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved 14 projects allowing road construction in national forest roadless areas, most of which had to be granted under the 1872 law governing hardrock mining. Twelve of the projects — nine in Nevada, two in Utah and one in Washington — allow for the exploration of minerals in inventoried roadless areas and therefore are governed by the 1872 law, the department said.
“USDA is committed to protecting roadless areas in our National Forests because of the critical importance of these areas to our natural resources, wildlife, and outdoor recreation,” Vilsack said in a statement. “While the decisions announced today allow for mineral exploration in roadless areas, not only does USDA have limited authority to approve or disapprove these activities, but these actions are consistent with the 2001 Roadless Rule.”
The 2001 Roadless Rule granted blanket protection to about 58 million acres of national forests nationwide but has been mired in legal battles ever since President Clinton put it in place just before leaving office. |
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The Forest Service has decided to withdraw their decisions on recreation uses on the upper Chattooga River in the Sumter, Chattahoochee and Nantahala national forests. The agency will conduct an analysis and issue a new decision later this year.
The decisions, announced in August 2009, would have, among other things, allowed limited boating on the main stem upper Chattooga River. Five appeals were filed as part of the Forest Service’s planning process. The Southern Region granted a stay while the appeals were under review, preserving the status quo on the river (meaning no boating is allowed above the Highway 28 bridge). That condition remains unchanged.
During the appeal process, the Forest Service discovered some inconsistencies between various components of the decision documents. While none of the appellants raised these inconsistencies in their appeals, the Forest Service decided to voluntarily withdraw the decisions. |
Not only do I work for Wild South, I am a contributing member.
by Tracy Davids – Executive Director
My husband and I contribute because the staff, board and members collectively protect the places we love. We visit public lands weekly to think in solitude, adjust our attitudes and reconnect with the real world — playing in rivers and observing other creatures, climbing mountains and seeing vast stretches of untouched nature.
These experiences feed our souls and keep us going. As Director of Wild South, I see first-hand how our team works tirelessly and effectively to ensure that the Southeast’s last remaining wild places stay that way.
But, why do you support Wild South?
We wonder about this question all the time as we think about ways to meaningfully involve more people in our work, attract new supporters and encourage current donors to expand their giving. So, I started asking. Recently I spoke with one of our long-time supporters, Tom Dudley, an attorney from Greenville, SC and a generous monthly donor. Here’s what he had to say.
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 The forest draws us like a magnet – away from our computers, out of the climate-controlled space of our houses and offices, off the roads and out of our cars.
Instead of asphalt, carpet, or concrete, we find soil and duff beneath our feet. The air we breathe in the forest is the oxygen-rich exhalations of trees, not automobile exhaust or industrial fumes. Sunlight filters through myriad hues of green. Bird song and water music fill the air. The trees shelter and embrace us, awakening a sleeping ancient memory. We are home.
Pictured: High school students from Falkville, AL experience the canyon at the end of the Payne Creek trail, part of the recently opened Payne Creek Outdoor Classroom.
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 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the Forest Service is beginning an open, collaborative process to create a modern planning rule governing management of National Forests and Grasslands — including restoring forests, protecting watersheds, addressing climate change, sustaining local economies, and improving collaboration.
“These lands are great natural treasures that we must conserve and restore for future generations,” said Secretary Vilsack. “Developing a new planning rule provides the opportunity to manage national forests and grasslands for the benefit of water resources, climate and local communities.”
In developing the rule, the Forest Service is preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) to assess alternative rules and their comparative environmental effects. The first step is soliciting public comments regarding the scope of the issues to be addressed in the EIS.
Although comments concerning the EIS’s scope must be received by February 16, 2010, the Forest Service will “continue to collaboratively engage the public in a variety of ways.” As part of this new collaborative process, the Forest Service is creating a Web forum for additional dialogue and public interaction.
For more information, please visit
www.fs.usda.gov/planningrule. |
 More than 71,000 Acres Dropped from Agency Proposal
In December, Wild South delivered a huge holiday present for our forests and our members. On behalf of Wild South, WildLaw filed a formal protest with the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) over a proposal to lease 148 parcels covering 71,043 acres in the National Forests in Alabama for oil and gas drilling. In response to our protest, the BLM withdrew all 148 parcels from the sale.
BLM had proposed to lease these parcels without conducting the proper environmental impacts analysis, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Nor did BLM properly consult with other agencies, as required by the Endangered Species Act.
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 We are blessed with an abundance of wild places and unique wildlife across our region. But how many of us ever get to see a bird of prey up close? Or touch the pelt of a wolf? Or understand the true nature of a black bear? Well, now you can.
Wild South is offering two new programs that directly connect people, especially our youth, to wildlife. Our hope is that a hands-on experience with wildlife will inspire an understanding of, and a responsibility towards, protecting the natural world.
For the past several years, our wildlife education efforts have focused on passive approaches, like publishing Species Spotlight and Nature Rangers articles in our quarterly newsletter and on our website. While these help to raise awareness about the wonders of nature, contact with our natural world makes a longer-lasting impression.
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Wild South Quarterly
