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Va.'s National Forests May Stay Roadless / Gov. Warner Seeks to Restore Designation in Parts of the State

Posted on: Friday, 3 March 2006, 12:00 CST

By CARLOS SANTOS; REX BOWMAN

Gov. Mark R. Warner yesterday moved to reinstate protection on some of the most pristine areas of the state's national forests.

Warner petitioned the federal government - which manages the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests in Virginia - to issue rules that would restrict road construction and timber harvesting on the forests that are designated roadless areas.

Roadless areas provide some of the state's premier wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation and harbor headwaters for many rivers.

In July, the Bush administration lifted federal protection on roadless areas within national forests across the country, setting aside a Clinton administration rule that prohibited development on more than 60 million acres of national forests.

Instead, the Bush administration called for a process in which individual governors must petition for greater or less protection than is called for under existing forest management plans.

Virginia's 387,000 acres of roadless areas is the most of any state east of the Mississippi. The George Washington & Jefferson National Forests in western Virginia cover 1.8 million acres.

Warner, a strong supporter of the roadless area designation, is believed to be the first governor to file a petition requesting protection.

"Roadless areas in Virginia's national forests are critically important for wildlife habitat and help safeguard drinking water," said Warner. "Our forests also present really outstanding opportunities for recreation and tourism. I have determined it is in the best interest of the commonwealth to have these areas protected in their current undeveloped state for current and future generations."

If the Forest Service accepts Warner's petition, it will negotiate a detailed plan with the state.

Environmentalists hailed Warner's move.

"The firm stand that Gov. Warner has taken to defend these last, unprotected wild areas on Virginia's national forests sets a clear standard for all governors," said David Carr, public land director for the Southern Environmental Law Center in Charlottesville. "Gov. Warner has been a strong supporter of protecting Virginia's roadless areas, and I think this is a strong follow-up as he ends his term."

But the petition met with criticism from the logging industry.

Paul Howe, executive vice president of the Virginia Forestry Association, said the organization of about 1,500 of the state's forest-product businesses and landowners strongly opposes Warner's petition.

Howe said logging is one of the acceptable uses of national forest land, and Forest Service rules already adequately protect areas from too much commercial activity.

"We're very much opposed to the Clinton roadless plan, and we're very much opposed to Gov. Warner trying to implement that roadless plan or establish additional roadless areas," Howe said.

Howe said proponents of the roadless plan have misled people into thinking it will limit logging in the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. The Forest Service allows a certain amount of timber to be cut each year, he said, and the roadless plan will not change that amount. "It'll affect where it can be cut, but not how much."

Warner said the U.S. Forest Service has received about 90,000 comments supporting full protection of the roadless areas.

"There's a lot of public support," said Carr. "Protecting roadless areas from road building is good environmental policy."

Warner also noted that the U.S. Forest Service estimates that demand for backcountry recreation in the national forests will increase by 170 percent by the year 2050.

Warner's petition stated that the state's national forests already have 3,000 miles of roads with a maintenance backlog estimated at $20 million.

Contact staff writer Carlos Santos at csantos@timesdispatch.com or (434) 295-9542.

Contact staff writer Rex Bowman at rbowman@timesdispatch.com or (540) 344-2612.

Source: Richmond Times - Dispatch

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