Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and the South took the path less traveled.

Earlier this year, three Southeastern states became the first in the nation to request federal roadless area protection. Governors from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina petitioned the federal government to protect roadless areas in their states from logging and roadbuilding. Just last month, the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee (RACNAC) made a recommendation to the Secretary of Agriculture to accept the governors’ petitions.

“These three Southeastern States are blazing the trail for the rest of the country,” says Ray Vaughan, environmental attorney at WildLaw and member of RACNAC.

RACNAC is a committee made up of diverse interests: conservation groups, the timber industry, recreation interests, and elected officials. RACNAC’s recommendation to move forward on these proposals is a major step toward ensuring complete protection of roadless areas nationwide.

Roadless areas are some of the wildest and most pristine pockets of national forest. Especially in the South, roadless protect the last remaining strongholds of unspoiled nature. Not surprisingly, roadless areas are also some of the top recreation spots for hikers, birders, bikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, and they provide important protection for drinking water sources and dozens of endangered species.

Over 95% of Americans-and 97% of Southern Appalachian citizens-support complete roadless area protection, according to the U.S. Forest Service. In 2000, citizens voiced overwhelming support for the Roadless Area Initiative, which would have permanently protected nearly 60 million acres of roadless areas nationwide. But the Bush Administration has since dismantled the initiative.

Currently, states can help choose how to protect roadless areas within their boundaries, and Southeastern states-besieged by logging-have taken the lead in safeguarding their remaining roadless areas. In the past decade, timber companies have targeted the South; currently 60% of the nation's logging and roadbuilding occurs here.

Grassroots environmental and outdoor communities have played instrumental roles in protecting the region's remaining roadless areas by helping citizens voice their concerns to decision makers.

“The people of our region continue to respond to the loss of these vital areas,” says Mark Shelley, Director of Southern Appalachian Forest Coalition. “They ask for a few wild areas to be kept undeveloped to fulfill their desires for backcountry recreation, relaxation and renewal, and a place to get away from the hectic pace of their busy lives.”

by Nikki Smathers

Drink This: Roadless Areas Protect Drinking Water

National Forests are the single largest source of drinking water for Americans. Here in the Southern Appalachians, some 2,200 towns and cities rely on Forest Service lands, including roadless areas, to safeguard the watersheds of their drinking water supplies. Some examples of towns and cities that get their drinking water from roadless areas include:

• Atlanta, Ga. (Boggs Creek, Turner Creek, Cedar Mountain, Miller Creek roadless areas)

• Gadsden, Ala/ (Oakey Mountain roadless area)

• Asheville, N.C. (South Mills River and Laurel Mountain roadless areas)

• Clemson, SC (Bee Cove roadless area)

• Johnson City, Tenn. (Slide Hollow, Stone Mountain, and Big Laurel Branch Addition roadless areas)

• Pulaski, Va. (Little Walker roadless area)