The Appalachian Voice
‘King of the Darters’ Removed from Endangered Species List
The Roanoke logperch, a striking, large freshwater fish found in a handful of watersheds in Virginia and North Carolina, is no longer on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s endangered species list. It’s a sign of the fish population’s improvement. But some individuals and environmental and conservation organizations see its removal from Endangered Species Act protections — rather than moving from “endangered” to “threatened” status — as premature.
Read MoreContinuity of Connection: Museum Exhibition Features Contemporary Native Artwork About Indigenous Mounds
A new exhibition, “Homelands: Connecting to Mounds through Native Art,” at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, features contemporary art from four of the 11 Native nations with ancestral ties to UT land.
Read MoreAppalachia’s Funkiest Fungi
Don’t miss 10 of Appalachia’s funkiest fungi! From Bleeding Tooth Fungus to Dead Man’s Fingers, we’ve selected the weirdest of the weird fungi. Hopefully you can find and appreciate some of these beautiful and fascinating local residents in your neck of the woods.
Read MoreProtected Paths: Trails Through Public Lands
This series features lesser-known trails in Appalachia’s public lands. They show the beauty and significance of hiking on public lands.
Read MoreThe Long Trail Back: Public Lands Recovery After Hurricane Helene
Hurricane Helene devastated many of Appalachia’s most beloved natural areas. Thanks to federal, state and local partners and volunteers, many of these outdoor spaces have reopened. But full recovery is far from over. Current and looming federal budget cuts and policy changes have made already challenging land restoration work even more arduous.
Read MorePeople vs. Pipelines
Patricia Smarsh and Jeffrey Gilliam’s land is threatened by the Ridgeline Pipeline, a proposed methane gas project from Enbridge Inc.
Read MoreA Call to Protect the Hellbender, Appalachia’s Largest Salamander
The Eastern hellbender is eligible to receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposal to classify the hellbender as endangered.
Read MoreFacing a Funding Fight
We take a look at some of Trump’s federal funding proposals for Fiscal Year 2026 that have a disproportionate impact on the air, land, water and local economies of Appalachia.
Read MoreSnapshots of Disaster Recovery
In this issue, we shared snapshots of disaster recovery, including a West Marion Resilience Hub and updates on the Virginia Creeper Trail.
Read MoreState Park All-Terrain Wheelchair Program; Fire Ants in South Virginia
Two Across Appalachia stories from Virginia cover six Virginia parks adding all-terrain wheelchairs and invasive fire ants spreading in the state.
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