Article 1: Wilderness as a Protected Area Classification



Article 1: Wilderness as a Protected Area ClassificationWilderness 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: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:Generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man’s work substantially unnoticeable;Has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation;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,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 2Why 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. JohnsonDo you know?Question: When was it signed?Answer: September 3, 1964Interview 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 WildernessWillamette National ForestJoey Levato USFSSince 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-to-coast.Why we need wildernessThe 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 wildernessThere are many reasons we need to protect wilderness: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 preventsWilderness designation protects wildlands from the negative effects of over-development, like pollution and habitat destruction. It also protects fragile ecosystems from:LoggingMiningOil and gas drillingRoad?buildingOff-road-vehicle useIndustrial or other developmentHow we protect wildernessCongress 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 : of Land Management Wilderness: 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 generations 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.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 SystemUpper Bald River, TennesseeJeff HunterWhen 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:National forestsNational parksNational wildlife refugesBureau of Land Management (BLM) landsThe 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." ................
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