Friends of Shenandoah Mountain (FSM), a long-time ABRA member, has proposed that a 90,000-acre tract of the George Washington National Forest be designated by Congress as a National Scenic Area. FSM has just created a virtual tour of the proposed Scenic Area site. To see it, click here. The Shenandoah Mountain Scenic Area (SMSA) is one of the projects is that is part of ABRA’s Conservation Hub program. To access the SMSA page in the Hub portion of the ABRA website, click here.

A virtual tour of Proposed Shenandoah Mountain Scenic Area

ABRA CONSERVATION HUB

ABRA’s Conservation Hub program promotes responsible resource management by providing access to critical information needed for effective public involvement in environmental review and oversight.

Following the defeat of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline in 2020, ABRA initiated the Conservation Hub to support informed public engagement with the broader range of environmental issues confronting the Allegheny-Blue Ridge Mountain region. The Conservation Hub builds on the analysis and information sharing capacity achieved through ABRA’s Pipeline CSI project during the years of ACP opposition.

The Conservation Hub is based on the use of GIS mapping to provide details and context for land development projects and management practices that involve risk of environmental harm, as well as for environmental preservation and restoration initiatives. The Conservation Hub also provides access to regulatory documents and assessments related to specific projects or issues.

Multiple Conservation Hub sites, focused on individual projects or issues, have been developed collaboratively with ABRA’s partners and allies. Going forward, we invite conservation groups, individuals, and communities to provide ideas for new Hub sites and GIS mapping that can contribute to informed public engagement on behalf of environmental integrity in the Allegheny-Blue Ridge region.