Tim Kaine: “this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath…”

“this bill authorizes additions to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, Virginia. This text represents years of negotiation and compromise among Virginia stakeholders who rely in different ways on the GW Forest. In many parts of America, Federal land management is controversial. Some may view these lands as repositories for timber, energy, or minerals. Others may enjoy using recreational trails through them. Others may believe that they should be left to nature and not disturbed. The truth, of course, is that all of these uses are important; the conflict lies in agreeing on which lands are best suited to which purposes. In the lead-up to the latest multi-year GW Forest Management Plan, various forest users came together to see if they could find reasonable compromises that would avoid years of unproductive disagreement and litigation. This group, known as the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, succeeded. Through hard work and consensus, the Collaborative made joint recommendations to the U.S. Forest Service for forest management and protection. Preservation advocates consented to timber harvest and other active forest restoration and management in certain areas, while forest products interests consented to wilderness and light management in other areas.…”