VIRGINIA

Jefferson National Forest

Miners Zero. The stave from an old oak barrel makes a zero upon a pile of slag in a huge coal mine in Jefferson National Forest. It's alarming to discover that much of our eastern national forests-- areas which are colored green and called "National Forests" on the maps we use--aren't forests at all, but coal mines, small towns, farm fields, etc. The truth is that less than 50% of the land designated as "National Forests" is actually public land. Much of the land that falls within  designated national forest areas are simply "purchase units"-- parcels of land the Forest Service would like to add to public ownership one day. A nice vision, yes. But the majority of Americans  who look at the maps and see a green area marked "National Forest" are fooled into thinking this is publicly-owned forested land.
 

Stripmine Zero. A monsterous coal mine sits in the middle of designated Jefferson National Forest land
along the Virgina-Kentucky border.

TopGone Circle. This striking circle shows what is happening to many of the mountain tops in Virgina and other coal rich states. Like you see here.....the tops are simply removed to get the coal. Some of this area was saved because of an old family cemetary and becasue a core group of people cared. The story of this circle is fascinating! To help achieve Zero Cut in Virgina's National Forests contact:

Virgina Heartwood



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