Garden, recycling, environment in West Virginia

WINTER, YOUR BACKYARD, AND WILDLIFE

As fall foliage fades and winter envelops West Virginia, wild critters, domestic pets, and livestock adapt to the changing weather. Some species leave the state for warmer climates, some hoard nuts and other foods for their winter needs, winter coats thicken, and other instincts take over to help animals make it through the winter... continue article

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Below is our recent article about the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. Be sure to read it before it goes to the archives.

WEST VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS CONSERVANCY

Helping to save our SPECIAL PLACE

We live in a state that is blessed with some of the most beautiful scenery to be found anywhere, abundant wildlife and plant life, and surroundings that can offer complete solitude to the person who desires it. Those who do not live here but who visit often sometimes comment that West Virginia is a secret they hope others do not find out about, because if too many people know about it the place could be ruined.

There are always forces that do not see the beauty and uniqueness of this special place as something to be preserved to the extent that many would wish. A place that was not always easily connected to the outside needs better and bigger roads, fuel demands of a country mean that extraction industries must continue to mine our mountains for their treasure. More industry and business is needed here to help our economy. Can the necessary forces to strengthen our economic health coexist with the forces that demand protection of our environment?

One of West Virginia's oldest environmental activist organizations is the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. This organization was founded in 1965 by a coalition of recreational users of the state's highlands who joined to address many of the different environmental threats to the state. According to their website their main mission is protecting clean air, water, forests, streams, mountains, and the health and welfare of people that live in West Virginia. The website contains a wealth of information about the state's ongoing environmental issues.

The Highlands Conservancy is a leader in protecting the state's natural environment using both defensive and offensive campaigns.

Some of their accomplishments over the years include:

• They were instrumental in the passage of the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act in 1975. This gave WV its first two wilderness areas, Dolly Sods and Otter Creek.

• They began a 35 year campaign to protect Canaan Valley and saw the establishment of a National Wildlife Refuge there.

• They campaigned to stop many dams around the state.

• Forty years' leadership on coal mining issues started with their first lawsuit against strip mining in 1967.

• They helped enact legislation such as the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act and the National Forest Management Act.

The WV Highlands Conservancy publishes the Monongahela National Forest Hiking Guide and a monthly newsletter called "The Highlands Voice" in addition to several downloadable maps and guides.

They sponsor activities that enable their members to enjoy the lands and waters that they work to protect. WV Mountain Odyssey Outings for 2007 include great hiking opportunities, some overnight. The 'We're Friends of the Mon!' program is a leader in protecting the Monongahela National Forest.

Some current projects include:

1. Vigorously opposing mountaintop removal through lawsuits. (See the article about the recent removal of protestors from Gov. Manchin's office - this incident was not reported in certain parts of the state).

2. Defending mining laws and working on other mining issues.

3. Continued work with the WV Wilderness Coalition .

4. Involving itself in the debate about wind energy coming to the Highlands.

5. Supporting putting Blackwater Canyon into public ownership.

6. Keeping big highway projects from further harming the mountainous highlands.

7. Protecting our native plants and animals and encouraging the fight against invasive non-native species.

There are several organizations dedicated to the protection of West Virginia's fragile environment. More will be highlighted in future issues of West Virginia Life and Recreation. Take a look at the list on the right side of this page to see them and check them out. Get involved in one or several if this goal of protecting the Mountain State's environment is also your passion.

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