Conservation Groups and Forest Service Reach Agreement to Protect Old Growth Forest in Macon County

ASHEVILLE—Conservation groups and the U.S. Forest Service have reached an agreement that protects an area of rare old-growth forest from logging near Franklin in the Nantahala National Forest

The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) had appealed the agency’s logging proposal, called the Haystack project, on behalf of the Western North Carolina Alliance, Wild South and the Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition. 

Lawsuit Filed to Protect Endangered Woodpecker From Excessive Logging on Mississippi’s Noxubee Wildlife Refuge 

BROOKSVILLE, Miss.— Two conservation groups and a long-time volunteer filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the logging of endangered red-cockaded woodpecker habitat on Mississippi’s Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. The agency has increased logging in the woodpecker’s home even though the bird’s population is in steady decline and excessive logging was a major factor in its endangerment; it has also failed to notify the public before developing logging proposals.

The US Forest Service has released it's preliminary rule for how our National Forests will be managed in the future.  The so called "NFMA Rule" is a long anticipated result that has involved the vigilance of conservation groups and citizens for several years.  Initial responses give the newly released rule a favorable response. As always Wild South will remain committed to an ecologically sound and principled approach to caring for our public lands.