Does wilderness hurt the timber industry and other parts of the economy?
Wilderness preservation is a negligible factor in the availability and production of Virginia timber. For example, in 1997, less than one percent of the state’s total timber harvest came off the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, according to the U.S. Forest Service figures. And existing wilderness is less than six percent of Virginia’s national forests. Further, timber in designated and potential wilderness areas is generally less accessible and less cost-effective to harvest than on other government and private forestlands. In fact, wilderness can help communities diversify their economy by attracting new businesses, residents and visitors. It also protects scenic backdrops that help improve individual property values, and protects the headwaters of the drinking water supply for many communities.
