m09.    How is the wilderness being preserved?

In 1964 Congress passed the Wilderness Act. Preservationists had been working on this since 1900. Four percent of the US is protected as wilderness; ¾ of this is in Alaska. About 47 million hectares of public land qualify as wilderness, but are unprotected. To sustain these areas, those easily accessible must be intensely managed with trails, bridges and so forth. Remote areas should only be available to those with a permit. Biologically unique areas must be left undisturbed.

e06.    What is “wilderness” and how much do we have?

e07.    What is the Wild and Scenic River System?  

e11.    What types of old-growth forests are there?