To: The West Virginia State House, The West Virginia State Senate, and Governor Jim Justice
OPPOSE LOGGING WV'S STATE PARKS
WV Senate Bill 270 and House Bill 4182, introduced by Governor Justice will allow logging in West Virginia state parks – IF they pass. Read on to appreciate how research has shown several iconic bird species declining-- even with sanctuaries of old-growth forest in WV State Parks, then raise your voice against this ill-conceived bill. Logging will destroy these last protected habitats and will negatively impact other wildlife, as well as tourism and future outdoor experiences, in WV State Parks. Just say NO!
Why is this important?
An Excerpt from:
BIRD SPECIES THAT WILL LIKELY SUFFER FROM LOGGING IN STATE PARKS
and STATE PARKS AND SCIENCE By Douglas McClure Wood
Cerulean Warbler: A species of High Continental Importance* with an Urgency/Half Life of only 19 years, a long-term range-wide population decline of 72% and a decline of 74% within the Appalachian Mountains region. WV’s old-growth and mature forests are important habitats.
Kentucky Warbler: A species of High Continental Importance* with a long-term population decline range-wide of 29% and a decline of 41% within the Appalachian Mountains region.
Wood Thrush: A species of High Continental Importance *with a long-term population decline range-wide of 60% and a decline of 49% within the Appalachian Mountains region. The Wood Thrush suffered a 1.4% average annual decline in WV between Breeding Bird Atlases, 1986-2011, representing a 29% population decline (Sauer et al. 2017; PIF 2013).
Worm-eating Warbler: In WV, Worm-eating Warbler populations suffered a significant average annual decline of 1.9% for the period between Breeding Bird Atlases (1986-2011). The population declined by 31% in the 41 years before 2011 (Sauer et al. 2017).
Acadian Flycatcher: The Acadian Flycatcher suffered a significant average annual decline of 1.7% in West Virginia and a population decline of 34% between Breeding Bird Atlases, 1986-2011 (Sauer et al. 2017; PIF 2013). WV had the second highest percentage of the Acadian Flycatcher’s estimated global population (10.3%).
Scarlet Tanager: WV had the second highest percentage of estimated global population (9.8%). The relatively stable population of this species in WV between Breeding Bird Atlases, 1986-2011, has now begun to suffer a precipitous decline at an average annual rate of 2.3% between 2005 and 2015 (Sauer et al. 2017).
Black-and-White Warbler: The center of distribution for this species is further north than the other species in this list. WV had the sixteenth highest percentage of estimated global population (1.3%). During the period between Breeding Bird Atlases, 1986-2011, the species suffered a 2.14% average annual decline in WV, a loss of nearly 35% of the 1989 breeding population (Sauer et al. 2017; PIF 2013).
*Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture, 2016 (AMJV)
Partners in Flight Science Committee (PIF)