Central Appalachia lies in the middle of one of the country's greatest hardwood forest. Communities in the region are at a critical juncture in deciding what role that forest will play in their future. In the past we have had to rely on an extractive industry chiefly controlled by absentee owners that has left behind vast environmental and social damage. As the mining era comes to an end, the timber industry is poised to continue this pattern.

An alternative vision is also taking shape. Over the past three years Appalshop has assembled a partnership that is evolving strategies to affect the course of timber development in southwest Virginia. Along with our partners, we are exploring ways to promote orderly, sustainable development of natural resources while protecting land, water, and the region's culture and values.

CMI's goals for forestry issues are:

• To use community media to enhance ongoing discussions among differing parties on whether to trade immediate returns for long-term environmental and social costs.
• To support discussions through the use of radio and video meetings on, 1) whether to export a raw resource or add value locally and, 2) how to balance forestry development with potentially competing activities such as tourism.
• Through the use of video and radio productions, include public opinions which seek to strengthen, rather than weaken, the structures of our communities.

Check out the links above to see some of the things that are happening around the region.