Editorials

One of Alabama's greatest riches is its rivers.

Our state has more of them than just about any state in the union. They account in large part for the amazing biodiversity to be found here.

Indeed, Alabama's own E.O. Wilson, one of the greatest biologists of our time, says one would have to venture to the edge of the Tibetan Plateau to find a place as teeming with flora and fauna as Alabama.

That amazing fact — and the abundance of Alabama's streams, great and small — so often goes unnoticed, especially outside the state.

That may be about to change.

A new river trail, stretching from the Georgia state line on Weiss Lake to Mobile Bay, now makes it possible for a visitor to pass through some of the most beautiful and remote areas in Alabama, to places where that wonderful biodiversity is on full display. At 631 miles, it is the nation's longest river trail in a single state.

Dubbed the Alabama Scenic River Trail, the trail officially opened in June. It has received some attention because of a few national news stories. But it now will receive serious recognition because the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service has designated it as a National Recreation Trail.

Fred Couch of Anniston, who came up with this idea and managed, with the help of a small group, to bring it to reality, ex-plains that being placed on the national list is the highest designation a river trail can attain.

That's good for the trail, but it is also good for Alabama. That'll mean tourist dollars, and it'll mean more focus on ecotourism, one of our natural strengths.

But it'll also mean that all of us, people from the state and our visitors, will get a better understanding of our unique biodiversity. That way, it's hopeful that everyone will stand up to protect it in the future.