Article 1: Wilderness as a Protected Area Classification
Wilderness laws and policies give effect to one of humanity’s noblest and most prudent impulses: the desire to
leave some parts of the planet to function on their own terms, rather than managing all lands intensively and
exclusively for the short-term benefit of the human species, Cyril F. Kormos and Harvey Locke, Introduction, A
Handbook on International Wilderness Law and Policy.
The term wilderness is used in a land use context to refer to a particular type of conservation area that is legally
protected. In this context, the term still refers to wild areas, but because the term is defined with social and
political as well as biological criteria, a wilderness protected area may not always look exactly the same as an
area that is described as wilderness from a purely biological standpoint.
Many countries have, or are developing specific legislation to designate wilderness areas. These laws usually
share several characteristics:
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They protect areas that are mainly biological intact, though often make exceptions for somewhat degraded
areas that are capable of restoration;
They aim to protect the largest areas possible, while recognizing that often protected areas start small but are
expanded over time.
They restrict infrastructure and extractive use in wilderness areas, in particular roads and pipelines, though
sometimes political compromises are necessary to enact a law, and certain uses are permitted under the law.
They limit human habitation in wilderness areas, though most wilderness laws explicitly recognize the rights of
indigenous peoples to continue to make traditional use of and/or live in wilderness areas.
They encourage recreation in a wilderness area, given that a central purpose of protecting wilderness is to
encourage a human relationship with wild nature.
One of the longest standing acts of legislation for wilderness is the US Wilderness Act (1964), which reads:
A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his works dominate the landscape, is hereby
recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is
a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of
undeveloped federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or
human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which:
1. Generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work
substantially unnoticeable;
2. Has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation;
3. Has at least two thousand hectares (five thousand acres) of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its
preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and,
4. May also contain ecological, geological or other features of scientific, educational , scenic or historical value.”
Finland defines wilderness as those places established: “to preserve the wilderness character of the areas, to
protect Sami culture and the traditional subsistence of the areas, and to enhance possibilities for multiple use of
nature.”
In the United States, livestock are allowed to graze in wilderness areas, a compromise necessary to ensure
passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964. In Finland resource extraction and infrastructure may be permitted to
facilitate indigenous Sami livelihoods, pushing the edge of the generally accepted definition of a wilderness
area (though in practice there is very little development in Finland’s wilderness areas).
On an international level, the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) protected area
classification system provides an international standard for protected area categories and management
approaches to maintain the integrity of each category. Within this classification system, IUCN’s Category 1b
defines wilderness areas as:”usually large unmodified or slightly modified areas retaining their natural character
and influence, without permanent or significant human habitation, which are protected and managed so as to
preserve their natural condition.”
As our last wild places come under increasing threat, legally defined wilderness areas are both gaining
popularity and significance. In 1990, there were six countries with some form of wilderness legislation or
wilderness zoning for protected areas. Today there are nine countries with laws, and at least nine more with
wilderness policies or zoning mechanisms, and two more countries with laws pending. Many indigenous groups
have adopted wilderness protection policies as well, as have a number of private landowners.
Article 2
Why did U.S. citizens feel the need to legally protect wilderness?
When the first Europeans settled in what is now the United States, they found a continent of almost unbroken
wildland. In less than 500 years the undeveloped nature of this 2-billion-acre (809-million-ha) undeveloped
estate has been reduced by 98%. As wildlands became scarce, Americans began to appreciate their value.
Think about the 1950s and 1960s in American history. What was happening during that time? It was an era of
increasing travel via cars, trains, and planes. Concern was growing for air and water quality, and the potential
that no lands in the United States would remain wild and free. American citizens in the 1950s wanted some
public lands permanently designated as wilderness. The most long-lasting and certain way to protect public
lands was through law passed by Congress and signed by the president. In the early 1930s, Bob Marshall, who
dreamed of wilderness protected by law, stated, “Areas … should be set aside by an act of Congress. This
would give them as close an approximation to permanence as could be realized in a world of shifting desires.”
The time was right to create and pass a bill that preserved wilderness.
However, passage of a bill preserving wilderness was not easy. Howard Zahniser wrote the first draft of the
Wilderness Act in 1956. The journey of the Wilderness Act covers nine years, 65 rewrites, and 18 public
hearings. In August 1964, after the Senate had passed it for the second time, the House of Representatives
overwhelmingly passed the Wilderness Act of 1964—with only one dissenting vote! President Lyndon B.
Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law on September 3 of that year. After signing the act, President
Johnson reflected on its significance: “If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than
contempt, we must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave them a glimpse
of the world as it was in the beginning.”
The first sentence of the Wilderness Act clearly states why Americans felt the need for Congress to preserve
wildlands by law:
In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing
mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no
lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the
policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an
enduring resource of wilderness.
With passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964, Americans chartered a new course in world history—to preserve
some of a country’s last remaining wild places to protect their natural processes and values from development.
Today, thanks to the wisdom, foresight, and perseverance of many dedicated individuals, current and future
generations will enjoy enduring wilderness. Select footprints to learn more about the journey of wilderness and
some individuals who made it happen.
Do you know?
Question: Who signed the Wilderness Act into law?
Answer: President Lyndon B. Johnson
Do you know?
Question: When was it signed?
Answer: September 3, 1964
Interview with Kelly Hartsell - Park Ranger, Shenandoah National Park
...the Wilderness Act was signed in 1964 and a lot of folks asked why, why was there a need for the Wilderness
Act ? , w W e had the national parks, we had national forests, we had refuges, we had public land. But
wilderness took a step further down the road of preservation. It said that this is an area that we are going to set
aside and let Nature’s course prevail. In national parks, and Shenandoah National Park is a great example, we
have a large area of land, we put a road right down through the middle of it, we built visitor centers and
amenities, we built campgrounds. The national park here preserved a scenic area and a lot of national parks
across the country preserve specific features for example the geysers at Yellowstone , the Grand Canyon of
Grand Canyon National Park. Wilderness took it a step further in the preservation ethic in that it preserved an
experience, it preserved natural processes, and the need for wilderness – why do we need wilderness – is that in
these placed that we protected as national parks they were becoming over-developed. So wilderness was an
answer to setting aside national parks and forest areas and as unmanaged and unhindered places as we could
do.
Article 3: Why Protect Wilderness
Willamette National Forest
Joey Levato USFS
Since the Wilderness Act passed in 1964, Congress has designated nearly 110 million acres of federal wildlands as official
wilderness. Official wilderness has the highest form of protection of any federal wildland.
Protected wilderness exists within the National Wilderness Preservation System. This wilderness is the wildest of the
wild. It has no roads, no development. It is the last remnant of pristine wildlands that once stretched from coast -tocoast.
Why we need wilderness
The benefits of wilderness are numerous. Wilderness provides so much more than a place to camp, hike or fish.
Wilderness cleans our air and filters our water. It provides a home for wildlife and an economic driver for local
communities.
Why we should protect wilderness
There are many reasons we need to protect wilderness:
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Wilderness protects watersheds that provide clean drinking water to surrounding communities.
Wilderness filters and cleans the air we breathe.
Many animals we love call wilderness their home.
People depend on wilderness for their favorite recreation opportunities, such as: nature walking, wildlife watching,
hiking, hunting, fishing, canoeing and camping.
What wilderness designation prevents
Wilderness designation protects wildlands from the negative effects of over -development, like pollution and habitat
destruction. It also protects fragile ecosystems from:
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Logging
Mining
Oil and gas drilling
Road building
Off-road-vehicle use
Industrial or other development
How we protect wilderness
Congress can use the Wilderness Act of 1964 to designate wilderness within our public lands. It is the highest form of
protection. Designation campaigns can take years and sometimes even decades to be successful. We work with local
partners in states where wilderness protections are needed to convince lawmakers to protect areas in their states. At the
same time, we work to safeguard unprotected areas from development so that their wild character is not lost while they
await formal protections.
Helpful links
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Wilderness.net:
http://www.wilderness.net
Bureau of Land Management Wilderness:
http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/blm_special_areas/NLCS/Wilderness.html
Article 4
Wilderness is America's Legacy
Wilderness is an indispensable part of the American story. Native Americans
depended on the bounty of wilderness for survival and held Earth and its wild
places sacred. As Europeans arrived and settled the continent, they viewed the
vast wilderness as places to be conquered. Lewis and Clark were inspired by the
untamed beauty and foresaw how then-wild country would contribute to a
burgeoning nation's wealth. Over time, wild lands were developed at an alarming
rate to meet the demands of an exploding population. The essential wildness of
America was tamed and transformed and, in some cases, lost. As Americans
realized that the long-term health and welfare of the nation was at risk, a vision
for conservation emerged.
In 1964, our nation's leaders formally acknowledged the immediate and lasting
benefits of wild places to the human spirit and fabric of our nation. That year, in
a nearly-unanimous vote, Congress enacted landmark legislation that
permanently protected some of the most natural and undisturbed places in
America. The Wilderness Act established the National Wilderness Preservation
System to "…secure for the American people of present and future generations
the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness." These areas are sources of
clean water and air and protect habitats for wildlife. One who visits wilderness
finds exceptional scenic beauty, natural sounds, and opportunities for challenging
recreation, inspiration, rejuvenation and solitude. For many Americans, just
knowing wilderness is there inspires pride and a sense of responsibility.
2004 marked the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, and Americans from all
walks of life can value wilderness as part of their heritage. Indispensable to the
American past, the legacy that is wilderness will remain indispensable to the
American future. Wilderness is every American's story.
Establishment of the National Wilderness Preservation System
Wilderness Act of 1964 "…where the earth and its community of life are
untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."
In 1964, Congress established the National Wilderness Preservation System
under the Wilderness Act. From the swamps of the southeast to the tundra in
Alaska, from the hardwoods of the northeast to the deserts of the southwest,
wilderness is found in all but six states. The Bureau of Land Management, Fish
and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and the National Park Service are charged to
preserve the natural condition of these lands and provide outstanding
opportunities for primitive and unconfined wilderness experiences.
Federal lands qualifying as wilderness must be designated by Congress through
legislation. In some cases, federal agencies recommend suitable lands. In other
instances, citizens put forward proposals for consideration by Congress. The
process culminates when the legislation is passed by Congress and is signed by
the President. This secures "…for the American people of present and future gen
erations an enduring resource of wilderness."
Wilderness Benefits
Wilderness areas contribute significantly to our nation's health and well-being.
The benefits these areas provide are as diverse as the areas themselves and far
exceed the mere acreage protected. Yet protection does not ensure sanctuary
from events that threaten wilderness character. The federal managing agencies,
together with American citizens, must rise to the challenge of protecting these
benefits and preserving our wilderness legacy.
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Water and Air—Americans value wilderness most because these areas
are sources of clean water and air. While the benefits of wilderness
transcend its boundaries, they are threatened by forces outside
wilderness. Pollution decreases water and air quality that people, plants
and animals rely on. Preserving wilderness preserves clean water and air.
Wildlife—Americans value the wildlife that is protected in wilderness,
from grizzly bears to wildflowers. Wilderness protects natural processes,
including natural disturbances like fire, which give rise to rich biodiversity.
Wildlife is threatened by non-native species, pollutants, and the
suppression of natural processes. Preserving wilderness preserves wildlife.
Legacy—Americans from all walks of life value the wilderness legacy. This
legacy is passed on from generation to generation by many who will never
visit wilderness, yet value its undisturbed quality. Failure to preserve the
untrammeled and natural conditions of these areas threatens this legacy.
Preserving wilderness character preserves our wilderness legacy.
Recreation—Wilderness was created for the use and enjoyment of the
American people. Yearly, over 12 million people visit wilderness to hike,
ride horses, hunt, fish, ski, float, take pictures and stargaze, to name a
few. Many people who visit wilderness are inspired and humbled by the
feeling of being part of something larger than one's self. Wilderness is a
haven for self-discovery and rejuvenation. Visitors must be aware that
high use of sensitive areas threatens the untrammeled quality of
wilderness. Preserving the integrity of wilderness preserves its unique
recreational value.
Economics—Wilderness areas have a positive impact on local and
regional economies. Counties with wilderness generally have higher
income and employment growth rates. From sales to service, the
economic benefits of wilderness influence every avenue of business that
relies on this resource. Diminishing wilderness character threatens the
far-reaching economic benefits of wilderness. Preserving wilderness helps
to preserve a healthy economy.
All Americans can value wilderness as part of their heritage. Every citizen has a
responsibility to ensure that the wilderness we have today remains wild for
future generations to enjoy tomorrow.
Article 5: National Wilderness Preservation System
Upper Bald River, Tennessee
Jeff Hunter
When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act in 1964, he created
one of our nation’s most cherished wildland systems: the National Wilderness
Preservation System.
The wilderness system preserves the wildest of our wild lands with the highest level
of government protection.
Today, the National Wilderness Preservation System includes more than 109 million
acres of protected wilderness areas for all Americans to enjoy.The NWPS includes
wilderness on four types of lands managed by the U.S. Government:
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National forests
National parks
National wildlife refuges
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands
The wilderness system has grown from 9.1 million acres from its beginning to
roughly 109 million acres today, totaling 662 Wilderness Areas. That equals less than
two percent of the lower 48 states.
The first states to gain Wilderness in the NWPS were Arizona, California, Colorado,
Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico,
Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
Upon signing the Wilderness Act, President Johnson said:
"If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we
must leave them something more than the miracles of technology. We must leave
them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through
with it."