Conclusions

An opportunity is at hand to preserve some of the last remaining wild places in Virginia's Jefferson National Forest. Over the next two years, the Forest Service plans to issue a draft management plan for public comment and, after review of those comments, adopt a long-range plan for the forest that will guide its management for 10 to 15 years. Protection of the areas described in Virginia's Mountain Treasures must be a cornerstone of this upcoming plan.

The 715,000-acre Jefferson National Forest is a part of the Southern Appalachians. The forest is mountainous, with much steep, rugged, and remote terrain. It features clean mountain streams, scenic waterfalls, popular byways, miles of hiking trails, rich biological diversity, and many other attractions.

This proposal would protect the wildest and most natural of these lands, totaling about 276,098 acres. As noted in the summary table, 106,797 acres, or about 39 percent, of these wildlands are at risk of logging and road building that would damage their natural values.

Protection of these wildlands would yield many benefits, including:

Clean Water. These forested areas contain important watersheds. Streams in the Jefferson National Forest form the headwaters of numerous streams that feed the rivers of southwestern Virginia. Keeping these wildlands in an undisturbed condition would help maintain the outstanding water quality and high-priority fisheries.

Recreation and Visual Beauty. The Forest Service expects a 50-percent increase in recreation in the South by the year 2005. Because there are so few wild areas left, the rugged mountain forests of the Jefferson, with their pristine streams, spectacular waterfalls, scenic hiking trails, and rich biological diversity, must be protected if future demand is to be met. These areas also provide valuable opportunities for hunting and fishing in remote, backcountry settings.

Biological Diversity. Many native plants and animals, including wildflowers, black bear, and many songbirds, will benefit from the protection of the large tracts of contiguous forests these areas provide. Old-growth forests are especially important for maintaining diverse wildlife populations. Since several of the areas link together to form natural wildlife corridors and sizable blocks of contiguous forest, their combined protection would reduce forest fragmentation

Jobs and Income. The natural attractions of the Jefferson National Forest generate millions of dollars annually in benefits from its many recreation opportunities. Economic growth in the mountain counties and the state itself also is supported by the beauty of these forested areas. The removal of these wildlands from the timber base would have a minor effect on the timber supply and little, if any, impact on timber-related jobs. At the same time, it would save taxpayers millions of dollars. The rugged terrain found in these areas is not well-suited for timber production, and the costs to log them, including the expense of building roads, exceeds revenues received. Moreover, the costs in silted streams, scarred vistas, fragmented wildlife habitats, lost backcountry recreation opportunities, and other damage are considerable.

In the Southern Appalachian region, only 10 percent of the timber comes from national forests; the rest is from private lands. Less than 1 percent of the timber cut in Virginia comes from the Jefferson National Forest. Payments to the counties would continue with little change under this proposal. By law, the payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) pays counties annually per acre for land in national forest ownership. Therefore, the federal payment would not be reduced due to decreased logging levels. Federal payments also make up a small share of each county budget.