Introducing the ABRA Conservation Hub

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Protecting West Virginia’s Public Lands from Expanded Use of ORV/ATVs

Sponsor: West Virginia Highlands Conservancy Developer: Lobbyists & Legislators in WV Lobbyists and legislators have persistently promoted off-highway vehicle recreation on West Virginia’s public lands, Federal and state, for the last two years. For obvious reasons, the West Virginia Highlands

Proposed Buckingham County Gold Mine

Sponsor: Friends of Buckingham Developer: Aston Bay Since at least 2016, Aston Bay Holdings has drilled more than 20 exploratory holes in the A-1 agricultural zone on land situated between Yogaville and the Union Hill community. Other Buckingham County locations

Greenbrier Southeast

Sponsor: National Forest Integrity Project Developer: U.S.Forest Service According to the US Forest Service, the Greenbrier Southeast project seeks to improve forest stand health and composition to improve future wildlife habitat and to provide for future commercial timber sales and

Corridor H – Parsons to Davis

Sponsor: Friends of Blackwater Developer: WVDOT/WVDOH Corridor H of the Appalachian Development Highway System, also known as US 48, will extend 157 miles from northern Virginia to central West Virginia. It is being constructed from Interstate 79 (I-79) in Weston

Rocky Forge Wind Farm

Sponsor: Rockbridge Area Conservation Council Developer: Apex Clean Energy Apex Clean Energy is working to complete development and start construction on Rocky Forge Wind, potentially the first onshore wind farm in the Commonwealth. The project will produce up to 75MW

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.