Stand up for threatened and endangered wildlife

West Virginia is home to many endangered or threatened wildlife species, such as aquatic brook trout, the illusive Northern flying squirrel, newly reintroduced elk herds, and many avian species.

As our modern world continues to expand, it is necessary for us to protect the habitats and migration corridors of the wildlife that makes West Virginia wild.

There are many programs that provide protections to these species, but one especially needs our attention and support now. The Land and Water Conservation Fund was created 50 years ago to balance the negative effects of offshore oil and gas drilling on marine ecosystems. Royalties from this sector are directed to funding public lands projects.

In West Virginia, $6.4 million have been directly dedicated to 10 Wildlife Management Areas including Cheat Canyon WMA. Another $219 million has funded large habitat areas and migration corridors at places like the Monongahela National Forest, Spruce Knob and Chief Logan State Park.

The Land and Water Conservation Fund received permanent authorization earlier this year thanks to the W.Va. delegation in Congress. Now it needs full and permanently-dedicated funding.

I urge all West Virginians to ask our Congressional members to say yes to permanent funding in the upcoming vote in the House and Senate. This program is vital to protecting healthy habitats for the beloved wildlife that also call the Mountain State home.

Karen Yarnell, Fairmont, WV