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From the 1999 Wilderness Society Report

The Wilderness Society

Preface

Ernie Dickerman

Overview

Why Protect Wild Areas

Southern Appalachian Ecosystem

Unprotected Wildlands of the
Jefferson National Forest

Conclusions

Recommendations

What You Can Do to Help

Co-Sponsors

Definitions:
   Wilderness
   Roadless Areas
   Recreation
   Scenery
   Old-Growth Forest

 

 


Scenery

The visual beauty of the Jefferson National Forest is a valuable attraction for residents and visitors. Its natural landscape with forested vistas, sparkling streams, and inviting backcountry pleases users of the forest. To plan and manage the forest, the Forest Service evaluates the visual beauty of the entire forest, and ranks the areas accordingly. Based on their scenic value and other resources, the areas are managed as follows:

Very High. These are outstanding areas that are to be preserved, such as wilderness, where logging and road construction, for example, are not allowed.

High. These are valued lands where scenic beauty should be retained, and human activities should blend in with the natural landscape.

Moderate. Scenic integrity is important in these areas, and human alteration should not dominate this forest.

Low. Due to undistinguished landscape or lower public concern, these are lands of lesser visual value, where modification of the forest's beauty is authorized.

Very Low. These lands may appear heavily altered.