PrimalNature.org
Mapping Underway in Bankhead National Forest, Alabama
The Bankhead National Forest in northeastern Alabama contains an estimated four hundred to five hundred miles of canyons, only one hundred of which had, until recently, been mapped. The environmental stewardship organization Wild South, in conjunction with the US Forest Service, is mapping the unidentified canyons. Mark Kolinski, employed part time by Wild South, is the field researcher, a formidable assignment, given the wild terrain. The aim is to identify the canyons in order to protect them. A few of the long-identified canyons are known to contain old growth, the best known site being the Bee Branch Research Natural Area with 128 acres. The canyons that Kolinski is in the process of identifying likely have additional patches of old growth. Furthermore, according to the 2004 revision of the US Forest Service's management plan for Alabama National Forests, the forests in and around the canyons that are not now old growth will be allowed to gradually return to old-growth status. In fact, the plan contains a "canyon prescription," which applies to the Bankhead. Lamar Marshall, executive director of Wild South, largely designed this prescription. Wild South, which can be reached through janice@wildsouth.org would welcome assistance with the mapping project.
Sources:
Davis, Mary Byrd. Old Growth in the East. Online edition. 2003-2007. Available at this web site.
Gaines, Glen, U.S. Forest Service. 2007. Personal communication.
Palmer, Danielle Komis. "Map Quest: It's Man versus Wilderness on Mission to Preserve Canyons in Bankhead National Forest," The Decatur Daily, July 15, 2007.
U.S. Forest Service. 2004. Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, National Forests in Alabama. Management Bulletin R8-MB 112A. For the canyon prescription, see page 3-20.
Web site of Wild South, www.wildsouth.org .
-- posted August 17, 2007