January 19, 2012:
The West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (WV-
NWTF) Board of Directors and 28 local chapters have unanimously
opposed the creation of a High Allegheny National Park within the
boundaries of the Monongahela National Forest.
National Park or Preserve status would not allow active wildlife habitat
management, which would have a negative impact on hunters, taxes
dollars and the local economy.
In West Virginia, outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen spend more than $270
million annually on hunting in the state, with much of the revenue from
tags and licenses being invested in the Monongahela National Forest. The
national forest is also eligible for federal Pittman-Robertson tax monies,
which would go away if it becomes a national park.
Each year more than 350,000 hunters take to West Virginia's woods in
search of some sort of quarry. With this pursuit, millions of dollars are
directed toward the state's economy, creating more than 5,000 jobs.
WV-NWTF President Charlie Nichols stated, “The WV-NWTF has raised
and invested about $1 million in the state of West Virginia since our
inception in 1987. That money has protected our hunting heritage and
improved wildlife habitat on public lands. Our hunting heritage traditions
are extremely important to our state. We will not stand idly by and see
those traditions usurped. Nearly $200 million of hunters’ monies have
been spent on the Monongahela National Forest to improve wildlife habitat
by the West Virginia DNR.”
The WV-NWTF additionally questions the notion that no federal monies
would be needed to transfer the Forest to the NPS. Pittman-Robertson
funding by federal law must be reimbursed if management reverts from
wildlife habitat. According to the Regional Planning Association website,
the High Allegheny National Park would include 414,445 acres of
Monongahela National Forest lands and 7,635 acres of West Virginia State
Parks, along with one-half of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Beaverdam WMA, Little
River WMA, Potomac WMA, Blackwater WMA, and most of the Cheat
Mountain WMA could be at risk in a National Park or Preserve.
The WV-NWTF’s 8,000 members are dedicated to the conservation of
upland habitat supporting wild turkey and other upland species and the
preservation of the hunting heritage traditions of West Virginia.
Hunters and anglers have historically been — and continue to be — the
largest contributors to government wildlife conservation programs.
Through excise taxes and license revenues, they have contributed more
than $10 billion to conservation, and annually provide more than 80
percent of the funding for most state fish and wildlife agencies.
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PRESS RELEASE
WEST VIRGINIA NATIONAL WILD
TURKEY FEDERATION
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