Programs

Wilderness Roadless Old Growth Private Lands Conservation Restoration

New Wilderness in Virginia

SAFC's successful grassroots campaign in Virginia has created new wilderness. The Ridge and Valley Act of 2007 was introduced on February 14th by U.S. Representative Rick Boucher and U.S. Senators John Warner and Jim Webb. The bill, which was enacted on March 30, 2009, protects 53,000 acres of Virginia and West Virginia's National Forests. The Virginia Ridge & Valley Act creates five new Wilderness Areas, two new National Scenic Areas, and expands six existing Wilderness Areas in southwest Virginia. It is part of the larger Omnibus Public Lands Management Act which creates a total of 2 million acres of new wilderness nation-wide.

Permanent protection of these lands will have a tremendous impact on this region of Virginia, both in terms of preserving the most ecologically valuable forested areas and increasing tourism, a major component of the area's economic base. Recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, picnicking, backpacking, bird watching, horseback riding, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, spelunking, rock-climbing and many other outdoor activities will thrive in the new Wilderness Areas. At the same time, motorized traffic and mechanized equipment are banned, preventing any disruptions to the ecosystems and diverse wildlife.

SAFC's VA Wilderness Organizer, Mark Miller, has worked tirelessly for the last five years to drum up the grassroots and high-level support necessary for this proposal. His efforts secured a broad base of support from each of the southwest counties in which the protected areas are located. Mark worked closely with the Virginia Wilderness Committee, The Wilderness Support Center, Campaign for America's Wilderness, The Wilderness Society, Southern Environmental Law Center, and others to make this campaign successful. In addition, SAFC would like to thank all of our members, supporters and e-activists who were there, ready to contact their Senators and Representatives at a moments notice, to express the importance of public lands and wilderness. Thank you, we could not have done it without you!

Virginia Ridge and Valley Act Timeline

Mark Miller's LOE Interview

Mark Miller was interviewed by Living On Earth in August 2008. A transcript and mp3 audio of that interview is available here.

Virginia Ridge & Valley Funding Partners

• The Conservation Alliance
• Campaign for America's Wilderness
• WestWind Foundation
• Merck Family Fund
• Town Creek Foundation
• American Wilderness Coalition
• Patagonia

Please click here to view the Act's endorsers.

Virginia Ridge and Valley Wilderness and National Scenic Area Act Endorsements

Elected Officials

Local Governing Bodies

Local Businesses

• Charlottesville
• Virginia Beach
• Nellysford
• Glen Allen
• Richmond
• Williamsburg

Local Organizations

Faith Groups

Individuals Endorsing the 2004 Bill:

National and Regional Organizations