Wilderness Advocates: It's Time to Gather Together!

On Saturday, September 6, old hands and new faces from across the state will meet at the Missouri Wilderness Conference in Salem, MO to learn about and take action on the new Missouri Wilderness proposal. Fun will be had by all as we plan the next steps in the effort to designate seven wild, spectacular places as Wilderness areas. You won't want to miss it!

Currently, only 4% of the national forest lands in Missouri are protected in Wilderness areas--free of roads, ATVs, mining, and logging but open to hiking, camping, riding, fishing, and hunting. The new citizen's proposal for Wilderness would add 50,000 acres (just another 3%) in seven outstanding but highly vulnerable areas. You may already know and love them: Big Spring, Lower Rock Creek, North Fork, Smith Creek, Spring Creek, Swan Creek, and Van East Mountain. If you don't, this is a great opportunity to discover them and come to understand why they need and deserve Wilderness status.

Guest speakers will include Dave Murphy of the Conservation Federation of Missouri; Rindy O'Brien, former aide to U.S. Senator Tom Eagleton and now with The Wilderness Society; and John Karel of the Missouri Wilderness Coalition, among others.

We'll hear about the history of Wilderness in Missouri, see slideshows and displays about current and proposed Wilderness areas, learn the ins and outs of the Wilderness Act and congressional designation, and share ideas in a moderated strategy planning session. Most important, we'll leave united, focused, and with an action plan for getting these special places designated as Wilderness.

And there will be lunch! Sandwiches are being catered by a local family. Just indicate when you register whether you want the vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore option. A $5 donation would be greatly appreciated--and that's the only expense for the entire conference! The Salem Farmers Market will be in full swing next door, and you may find some tasty treats there to augment your lunch or eat on the way home.

Please register in advance, if possible, so we'll know how many to expect and feed. You can email scottm@mowild.org; send a letter to Missouri Wilderness Coalition, P.O. Box 377, Boss, MO 65440; or call 573-626-1021 or 314-602-6639. Don't forget to include your lunch preference.

Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Saturday, September 6
Place: Ozark Natural and Cultural Resource Center (ONCRC), 202 South Main (Hwy 19), Salem, MO

You can find more information on the Wilderness proposal, as well as a direct link for registering, at the Missouri Wilderness Coalition website.

Hope to see you there!