‘King of the Darters’ Removed from Endangered Species List 

Roanoke logperch swimming in a stream

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.

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SWVA leaders advocate for community resilience projects in D.C.

A "Welcome to Dante, Virginia" sign stands in front of a small brick building with a dark metal roof, set against a backdrop of forested hills with autumn foliage. The sky is clear and blue, and a few other buildings are visible in the background.

On an extraordinarily hot, humid day in July, three Southwest Virginia community leaders climbed their way around Capitol Hill. Leabern Kennedy, Vice Mayor of Pound, Linda Kiser of Dante and Melissa Gillenwater of Dungannon had endured the eight-hour drive from the other end of the state the previous day and were now making their way…

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The Long Trail Back: Public Lands Recovery After Hurricane Helene

Wild South’s chainsaw team (left to right: Ben Shaw, Nick Massey and Taylor Hilgeman) lend a hand rerouting a section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Table Rock in response to Hurricane Helene. This section was next to, but outside of, the Linville Gorge Wilderness, so chainsaw use was permitted. Photo by Jonathan Massey, Wild South

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.

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