New group to help conserve wilderness areas in 3 states

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A new regional organization has been created to help conserve 28 federally designated wilderness areas in Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri.

Volunteers have established Arkansas/Illinois/Missouri for Wilderness Stewardship, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The group will recruit, train and field volunteers and eventually some paid seasonal staff to visit the 28 wilderness areas and establish a baseline for their current health.

Charles Bell, the new organization's chair, says the tristate area has an incredible natural resource in its wilderness areas. But while Congress has protected the lands, Bell says it has not appropriated the money federal land agencies need to adequately manage them and citizen volunteers can help fill the gap.

Bell says the wilderness areas suffer from invasive species, illegal trails, insect infestations, trash deposits, noise pollution and many other problems.