Echoes of Appalachia

The Trump administration has moved to open 80,000 acres of public land in Virginia and Tennessee to logging and road construction. This land includes parts of North Fork Pound and Seng Mountain in Virginia, along with Flint Mill and Rogers Ridge in Tennessee. These areas lie within the George Washington, Jefferson, and Cherokee National Forests.

The forests in these hollers have long been protected from heavy industrial use. The new plan would allow timber companies to bring equipment into areas that have seen little disturbance. Local residents and environmental groups warn this could lead to serious damage.

The mountains in this region have steep slopes and fragile soil. Trees help hold the ground in place. Removing large sections risks erosion, causing mud and sediment to flow into nearby streams. This threatens water quality downstream in communities that rely on these rivers.

Residents in towns like Damascus, Virginia, depend on visitors who come for hiking and fishing. These businesses rely on the quiet, natural landscape. Clear-cutting and road building could reduce tourism, harming local economies.

Wildlife that depends on intact forest habitat may also suffer. The region is home to bears, deer, salamanders, and many bird species. Logging roads often fragment habitat, making it harder for animals to survive.

Officials argue the logging will be managed carefully and that some areas need thinning to reduce wildfire risk. However, critics say this is a cover for large-scale timber extraction and road expansion.

Public comments and legal challenges are expected as the plan moves forward. Many in the Appalachian communities hope to keep these forests standing, protecting water, wildlife, and ways of life tied to the land.

The decision marks a major shift in how federal land in the Southern Appalachians is managed. It remains to be seen how much of the proposed logging and road building will happen. What is clear is that the hills and hollers of Virginia and Tennessee face a new kind of pressure. And before you say this is “fake news” do yourself a favor and research this for yourself. Not only is this administration attacking poor people of Appalachia, now they are coming for our mountains.

Are you ready to speak up? Are you ready to stand up to these politicians?

-Tim Carmichael