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Allegheny National Forest
"It must be concluded that the demand for wilderness experience on the ANF is very high, given that half the country's population lies within a day's drive of the Forest.... It seems obvious that the demand for wilderness designation on the Forest is high, and the available supply in the regional area is low."- 1986 Allegheny National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan,
Chapter 2, page 5America's national forests were established in part "to furnish a continuous supply of timber for citizens of the United States." Further, the 1911 Weeks Act, which allowed the federal government to establish the Allegheny National Forest and other national forests in the eastern United States, also provides for the "production of timber."
Friends of Allegheny Wilderness does not oppose logging in the Allegheny National Forest, nor do we support the efforts of those who do.
However, extremely important wrinkles have been added to the management scheme of the National Forest System over the years. The 1960 Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act states that "The establishment and maintenance of areas of wilderness are consistent with the purposes and provisions of this Act." And of course, the Wilderness Act of 1964 directed Congress to establish wilderness areas on national forest land "In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition."
At less than two percent of its landbase protected as wilderness, the Allegheny National Forest is sorely underrepresented in terms of acreage allocated to America's National Wilderness Preservation System. Please explore our website to find out how you can help rectify that situation for this, the home national forest of Wilderness Act author Howard Zahniser!
Designating wilderness in the Allegheny National Forest requires an act of the U.S. Congress. Of the 8,200 public comments the U.S. Forest Service received on their draft Forest Plan in 2006, more than 6,800 (over 80 percent) specifically supported FAW! Urging your members of Congress to now legislatively support this public mandate with the Citizens' Wilderness Proposal is absolutely critical. Here's how to do it:
Thank you for helping to support permanent protection for the last remaining wild areas of the Allegheny National Forest for future generations to use and enjoy!
The Honorable Glenn Thompson
United States Representative
3555 Benner Pike
Bellefonte, PA 16823
The Honorable Bob Casey
United States Senator
17 South Park Row
Federal Building, Suite B-150
Erie, PA 16501
The Honorable Pat Toomey
United States Senator
17 South Park Row
Federal Building, Suite B-120
Erie, PA 16501
Learn more about FAW's A Citizens' Wilderness Proposal for Pennsylvania's Allegheny National Forest!
Read the Executive Summary and see the maps of our proposed wilderness and national recreation areas.
