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Sangre de
Cristo Wilderness, CO. |
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Introduction
"It behooves us then to do two things: First we must see that
an adequate system of wilderness areas is designed for preservation,
and then we must allow nothing to alter the wilderness character
of the preserves." — Howard Zahniser, chief author
of the Wilderness Act
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During the first 40 years since passage of the
Wilderness Act, wilderness advocates were successful in expanding
the size of the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) from
the nine million acres originally designated by the Wilderness Act
to 107 million acres in 2004. However, during that same time period
research has documented that the quality and integrity of our Wilderness
System has been declining. Wilderness advocates have begun realizing
that designating wilderness is only the first step toward achieving
protection. The second critical step is to prevent diminishment and
loss of wilderness values by staunchly applying good wilderness stewardship |
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The quality of our NWPS and the very idea of wilderness face significant
and increasing threats from many directions. For example, the concept
of "wilderness" is being seriously eroded through expanding
motorized activities in Wilderness, increasingly routine proposals
for ecological manipulation, growing support for incompatible levels
and forms of recreation, and the escalating commercialization of
the wilderness resource. However, the most significant underlying
threat is the lack of commitment to good wilderness stewardship.
This apathy can be found both within the land management agencies
as well as within the conservation community.
One thing that has become very clear is that the unique values and
very meaning of wilderness will not survive if this level of apathy
continues. Our NWPS is in desperate need of passionate and knowledgeable
stewardship advocates. The action and efforts of concerned citizens
such as yourself are the only way we will achieve an enduring resource
of wilderness in America for future generations to know and enjoy.
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