"Virginia is for lovers--of nature. Virginians and visitors alike are increasingly heading outdoors, either to escape life's daily pressures or engage in outdoor activities. Our state offers some of the most beautiful landscapes and bountiful natural areas to enjoy, from the wide-open expanse of the Chesapeake Bay to the "wild and tremendous" mountains, as described by Thomas Jefferson in Notes on the State of Virginia.

Unfortunately, we've lost a lot of these places since Jefferson's time. More than ever, it's vital that we act today to protect our natural landscapes to sustain a healthy environment and a robust outdoor recreation economy, and to ensure that future generations enjoy these special places as we do.

The Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2005 would do just that. Introduced by U.S. Senator John Warner and Congressman Rick Boucher, the bill would protect 55,000 acres of the Jefferson National Forest in southwest Virginia. If you're a nature lover, you'll want to write your congressional representatives and urge them to support this bill, today.

U nder the Wilderness Act of 1964, Congress can designate federal lands as wilderness-forever untouched by the machines of man and left to the processes of nature. This means no roads, no automobiles, no mechanized equipment.

Let me debunk a myth. Those who argue that the best use of public lands is to extract the timber and minerals like to say that wilderness designation "locks up" the land from human use. Quite the contrary, wilderness designation allows a multitude of activities-hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, bird watching, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, skiing and rock climbing are a few of the recreational opportunities. Moreover, wilderness designation ensures that these areas remain open for these activities for generations to come, whereas logging or mining can detract from human enjoyment for years. Who wants to hike through a clear-cut forest or fish in a muddy stream?

While wilderness prohibits motorized equipment, the law allows flexibility for public health and safety-for search and rescue operations, for example, or to control fires that threaten private property.

Wilderness areas are important for more than public enjoyment. These stretches of land provide us with fresh water, clean air, and a diversity of plants and animals. They provide shelter for wildlife that need mature native forests, including songbirds like the Cerulean warbler, and game species like black bear. They help ensure clean water in those watersheds, many of which are a source of drinking water for downstream communities.

Across the country, studies have shown that wilderness boosts a locale's economy, enhancing the quality of life so that real estate values go up, and new businesses and residents come in. The backcountry recreation that wilderness provides is dramatically rising-the Forest Service estimates that demand will grow 150 percent by 2050which translates into increased revenue for outdoor outfitters and tourism interests.

F or all of the reasons. above, the Virginia Ridge and Valley Act has drawn incredible support from citizens, local boards of supervisors, businesses, and local and statewide organizations.

The bill would designate seven new wilderness areas and expand six existing areas, for a total of 43,000 acres. It would also designate two new National Scenic Areas, similar to wilderness, with the exception that they are open to mountain biking, a fast-growing sport in Virginia. The bill is a model of cooperation between the mountain biking community and wilderness advocates who worked together to craft a bill that both can endorse.

Perhaps you've been to one of the two newest wilderness areas-the Priest and Three Ridges in Nelson County, designated in 2000-and know the feeling of being in a wilderness. And perhaps you wish there were more of these places. Virginia has only 177,000 acres in wilderness, less than 1 percent of our state. Now is the time to ensure that more places are forever protected.

Go to www.VirginiaWilderness.org to learn more. You can add your name to the growing list of Virginians who endorse the bill, and find sample letters to send to members of Congress urging that they ensure the bill is passed.

Help keep Virginia a state for nature lovers." (David Carr, C-Ville Weekly, November 29, 2005)