The second Central Appalchian Ecological Integrity Conference brought over 120 people from throughout Appalachia to Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, WV, on June 26 through 28. The Appalachian Restoration Campaign, a project of Heartwood, hosted the event with a theme of "Defining Problems and Solutions for Appalachian Restoration."

Conference organizer Sara Huss called the event a huge success, "Attendance was excellent and the keynote speeches by Dr. Orie Loucks and Dr. John Cairns complimented each other in information and inspiration."

Leadoff keynote speaker Dr. Loucks spoke on the topic of "Inspiring functional integrity from chipping, mining and air pollution in Appalachia: a guide to restoration."

Dr. Cairns’ keynote address, which followed the Saturday evening banquet, dealt with that all important question, "Can human society exist without ecological restoration?"

Attendees chose from a variety of workshops including: Soil Nutrients and Forest Health, Applying GIS to Conservation Problems, Ecoforestry and Timber Certification, and Conservation Easements in Appalachia. Field trips to Otter Creek Wilderness Area, Blackwater Canyon, and canoeing on the Shaver’s Fork rounded out an exciting weekend.

Following the conference Than Hitt, former Coordinator for ARC, and current Coordinator Jason Halbert, met with Monongahela National Forest Supervisor Chuck Myers to present a draft map of 10 "Roadless Opportunity Areas" on the Mon. This preliminary investigation of uninventoried roadless areas is based on road density analysis and USFS roadless area criteria. Older data produced some larger areas than actually exist and Joe Rozich, GIS Coordinator for the Mon, was quick to point this out. Working with the Forest Service and updating data for use in this map and others is a critical element to ARC’s work in Central Appalachia. Hitt and Halbert urged Forest Supervisor Myers to withdraw proposed projects in two of the areas--Dolly Sods North and McGowan Mountain.

Forest Plan revisions for the Mon, Jefferson, and Wayne National Forests will provide opportunities for expanding Wilderness, Roadless and other important area designation acreages on Appalachian national forests.

Conference proceedings are in the works and will be available in the fall. Call or write ARC: PO Box 5541, Athens, OH 45701,

(740) 592-3968, email: arc@frognet.net.