Forest; © www.jonathanjessup.com
We applaud West Virginia Representatives Nick Rahall and bill sponsors Shelley Moore Capito and Alan Mollohan for introducing the first new wilderness bill of 2008 -- the Wild Monongahela Act, which would protect 47,000 acres of new wilderness in the Monongahela National Forest. House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rahall is following in the proud tradition of others who have held this post, including Rep. Morris Udall of Arizona and Rep. George Miller of California, who recognized the importance of leaving generations to come some of our most special wild places. We are pleased that Senators Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller will introduce a companion bill in the Senate.
While we'd like to see quick action on this measure, which would expand three existing wilderness areas and create four new wilderness areas, we hope the West Virginia delegation comes together to include several important areas that are not a part of this legislation. We look forward to working with the entire delegation to also provide protection for the worthy areas of Seneca Creek, the north and east units of Roaring Plains and the East Fork of Greenbriar.
The introduction of the Wild Monongahela Act brings to nine the number of states with viable wilderness bills in play, which together would protect close to 2 million acres. Today, when Americans lose 6,000 acres of open space every day -- 2 million acres each year, it's just good sense to try and protect at least as much land for our children and grandchildren's children.
