Forests, both public and private, dominate West Virginia's beautiful mountainous landscape. The Monongahela National Forest protects the core of the state's wildlands and is the fourth- largest national forest in the East. The Monongahela also contains 80,000 acres of wilderness areas and thousands of acres of wild forests that deserve such designation. Its 918,000 acres spread out over 10 counties are home to nine federally listed endangered or threatened species. The Mon’s attractions draw people from all parts of the United States for hiking, hunting, rafting, camping, and fishing.

A Campaign for the Monongahela National Forest
The Monongahela National Forest contains some of the wildest and most beautiful mountain forests in the East. These forests give life to a wide range of plant and animal species, including black cherry trees, black bears, and hundreds of species of birds. Unfortunately, the Forest Service’s recently released management plan for the Mon fails to recommend permanent protection of economically and ecologically important natural areas and all but ignores nearly 13,000 public comments in support of more wilderness. Currently, less than 9 percent of the Mon is part of the Wilderness System, and that represents only one-half of one percent of the state’s land base.

>> Find out More About the Campaign for the Monongahela
>> New report: West Virginia’s Wild Mountain Treasure: The Monongahela National Forest