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Across the nation, grassroots groups have been working for months, years and sometimes decades to protect some of America's remaining wild places as wilderness. These groups have worked to protect everything from old-growth forests to fragile desert lands, wild salmon runs to glistening lakes and forested valleys. Some of these efforts recently moved another key step forward, as Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced an expansive public lands package (S. 3213) that includes seven wilderness measures. These measures have come this far because of the tireless support of some phenomenal local organizations. The Chairman's package contains more than 90 titles, including more than a half dozen wilderness measures to protect over 900,000 acres of wild land in West Virginia, Virginia Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado.
West Virginia
The Wild Monogahela Wilderness Act would protect 37,000 acres of new wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia - the first new wilderness in the state in 25 years. The West Virginia Council of Churches [1] (WVCC) is one notable proponent of the Act. The WVCC is a Christian-affiliated organization with a cooperative mission to engage in public issues and provide service opportunities for community members. The broad and diverse coalition of individuals and groups advocating for more designated wilderness exhibits the many and varied values that wilderness provides for West Virginians. A leading organization working for passage of this bill is West Virginia Highlands Conservancy [2] (WVHC) which for 40 years has worked for wilderness protection for the Mon (Monongahela), largely through volunteers.
Virginia
The Virginia Wilderness Committee [3] (VWC) is working to establish the Virginia Ridge and Valley Wilderness, some 43,000 acres of wilderness in Jefferson National Forest. The legislation is now part of the new large Senate lands package. The VWC is a volunteer-based organization committed to the conservation of Virginia's natural heritage, and works closely with local citizens and the Virginia Congressional delegation to advocate for legislation that provides permanent protection to outstanding wild areas on public land in Virginia.
Oregon
Oregon Wild [4] (formerly the Oregon Natural Resources Council) has been working to permanently protect nearly 130,000 acres of National Forest lands on Mt. Hood for many years. The organization, which began as the Oregon Wilderness Coalition, has played a crucial role in winning wilderness protection for millions of acres of some of Oregon's most-treasured landscapes.
Oregon Wild is also working with the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council to advocate protection of 23,000 acres of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument as wilderness. The Council has poured over twenty years of effort into achieving wilderness designation for Soda Mountain's fragile ecosystem. The new lands package includes a provision to confer lasting wilderness protection to the monument's pristine backcountry.
Another Oregon-based organization working toward the conservation of local wilderness is Backcountry Hunters and Anglers [5], who are proponents of the Copper Salmon wilderness. This effort aims to protect about 40 percent of federal land in the headwaters of Elk River on the southern Oregon coast. The Elk River watershed is a rich in big-game wildlife, and includes one of the most productive salmon and steelhead fisheries in the country. The Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, along with Friends of Elk River, have worked tirelessly to build a diverse coalition in support of Copper Salmon wilderness. The hard work paid off when Senator Bingaman included the measure in his new lands bill package.
Idaho
The Idaho Conservation League [6] and Owyhee Initiative Work Group [7] are also working to pass the proposed land package, with a focus on the Owyhee Public Lands Management measure contained in the bill. The Idaho Conservation League is dedicated to preserving Idaho's clean water, wilderness, and quality of life through citizen action, education, and professional advocacy. The Owyhee Initiative Work Group is a coalition of landowners, ranchers, environmental organizations, county governments and recreation groups appointed by the Owyhee Board of County Commissioners. The Owyhee lands bill includes a provision to permanently protect as wilderness 517,000 acres in the Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands in the southwest corner of the state, and provide wild and scenic status to nearly 315 miles of rivers.
Colorado
Another important conservation measure in the large lands package is the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness and Indian Peaks Wilderness Expansion Act. The Colorado Environmental Coalition [8] has been working assiduously in support of this measure, which aims to designate 94 percent of the Park as wilderness and ensure that the Park's breathtaking scenery and precious wildlife habitat would be preserved. The Colorado Environmental Coalition works to protect Colorado's natural heritage and quality of life. Every year, the Coalition mobilizes scores of organizations and hundreds of individuals who work toward the conservation of Colorado's resources and natural habitat.
These groups deserve recognition for their dedication and commitment to preserving our special wild places. Their tireless efforts have brought permanent protection of some of our natural gems within our reach. And with their continued support, we look forward to moving this new lands package through the Senate.