West Virginia Appalachian Mountains: National Forest or Wilderness

In the video, an association between the West Virginia Wilderness Coalition (WVWC) and the Campaign for America’s Wilderness (CAW), the preservation of the West Virginia Appalachian Mountains are discussed. The Monongahela National Forest in the Appalachian Mountains has been used for logging, mineral extraction, and recreation. Congress is considering making it national wilderness which would not allow logging or mining unlike national parks and forests. Mike Matz of the CAW says that the protection of land is much greater when it is labeled as wilderness. The Appalachians are a very biodiverse forest because of the combination of the northern and southern species. Dave Saville of the WVWC states, “This is a globally important ecosystem.” The protection from destructive uses would allow for more enjoyment.

I agree with trying to make the national forest into wilderness. Long-term logging and mining can have very severe effects on land. With fragile ecosystems like this, even the slightest changes can throw everything off balance. In the video, they say that only six percent of American is national wilderness. Compared to the growing level of industrial areas, that is not very much. More of the country’s national forests and parks should be declared wilderness. If not, there will be little land that is completely natural and untouched by humans.


"WVWC & CAW Talk Wilderness Preservation." Dave Saville and Mike Matz. YouTube. WVWC and CAW, 7 Aug. 2008. Web. 8 Apr. 2010. YouTube - WVWC & CAW talk wilderness preservation.