Civil Rights Icon Rep. John Lewis Targets Southern Environment; Wilderness Society Report Urges Expansion of Protected Areas.

ATLANTA -- Warning that "time is running out for the last remaining wild lands in our National Forests of the Southern Appalachians," the Wilderness Society today released "Why Wilderness?" a comprehensive report detailing the singular role wild lands play in Southern culture and identity. Civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) wrote the report's preface, signaling his intent to champion the cause of wilderness protection in the critical months and years to come.

"The people of the South have a special connection to the land: for so many of us, for so long, the land is all we had," writes Lewis. "I believe that in the coming days and years, the cause of civil rights will become more and more about protecting green spaces and open land, about clean air, clean water and clean land."

"Why Wilderness?" provides state-by-state documentation of the current status of many wilderness areas in the Southern Appalachians, with maps amplifying "how little of our remaining wild lands are protected, and how much of it is so close to our fastest-growing urban centers," as Wilderness Society President William Meadows writes in the introduction. It also notes that Southern Appalachian wilderness rivers provide drinking water to more than 10 million people.

"Why Wilderness?" goes beyond this documentation to answer the question posed by its title, exploring how critical wild lands are to the South's quality of life, environmental health, values, history and traditions -- and illustrated with stunning photographs by Kathryn Kolb.

"All Southerners who want to preserve our region's crown jewels must take action now," said Frank Peterman, Wilderness Society deputy vice president for the Eastern Region. "The Bush administration's plan to overturn the Roadless Conservation Rule and allow more logging in National Forests could be the final blow. We are urging concerned citizens to call the Whitehouse at 202-456-1414 and Secretary of Agriculture Venamam at 202-720-3631 to protect our National Forests by restoring the Roadless Rule.

"As 'Why Wilderness?' clearly shows," Peterman said, "we must urge Congress to block the administration's proposal and expand protected wilderness areas in the Southern Appalachians if we want our children and grandchildren to enjoy their great heritage, and if we are to prevent one of the richest ecosystems on the planet from disappearing."

"Why Wilderness?" is available from the Wilderness Society by calling 404-872-9453 or by visiting www.tws.org on the Internet.