We need hardy souls to walk for the threatened old-growth forest of Dysart Woods mid June, 1999.  This is the last .004 percent of the original ancient forest that once covered 95 percent of Ohio.  But it is in imminent threat by approved mining within its watershed and pending permits to mine underneath the last ancient forest in unglaciated Ohio.

 Walks are powerful demonstrations of commitment to a cause.  What more important cause can there be than saving the last ancient forest of its type?  Dysart Woods is among the most endangered ecosystem in the world.  Walking 117 miles continuously will not be easy.  Last year we walked 75 miles from Athens to Columbus in 3 ½ days.  We walked more than 20 miles most days.  Spread out over 6 days, we should not have to walk more than 20 miles a day on this walk. 

 We will have support vehicles and cell phones (which we still need donated) to help in the event of blisters or exhaustion.  We will be camping most nights with floor space in nearby houses available for bad weather or those who desire.  If you live along or near the route (we will likely walk the National Road most of the way), and have any extra floor space in your house to spare, please contact us.

 Please call 740-594-7287 or email dysart@pageville.com if you are interested in walking or helping to publicize the walk.  If you can't walk, please consider donating.  Make checks to "Dysart Defenders" and mail to P.O. Box 31; Athens, Ohio 45701.

 This is a unique and priceless forest.  It is the only ancient mixed mesophytic forest in Ohio.  This is the type of forest that covers the unglaciated third of the state.  But Ohio Valley Coal Company's permits D-0360-7 was passed by the Ohio Division of Mines and Reclamations that would allow mining underneath the watershed directly upstream from Dysart Woods.  The pending permit D-0360-9 goes directly underneath Dysart Woods.

 Further, the Ohio Attorney General said that the ODMR's Lands Unsuitable Petition (LUP) decision that declared a minuscule buffer zone for the forest does not prevent longwall mining directly underneath the ancient forest.  "The decision did not declare the #8 and #9 coal seams off limits to mining," said Attorney General spokesperson Kristen Bennett.  She said media reports that the decision did ban this type of mining were based on others interpretations, not the ODMR's.

 Dysart Defenders, a co-organizer of the walk, has appealed the LUP decision to request that it be strengthened to stop all types of mining within the full 4,170 acre watershed buffer zone of Dysart Woods.  Hearings on this appeal are scheduled through the Spring.  Please see: www.frognet.net/~hockingv/ or www.ohio.pageville.com/dysartwoods/ for more information: