The Wilderness Act
WA
Federally owned land, showing the amount of wilderness that protected by the Wilderness Act
Overview
- In 1956 ,former Wilderness Society Executive Director, Howard Zahniser drafted the bill to protect some of the nation's remaining wilderness.
- the Wilderness Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964 after over sixty drafts and eight years of work.
- The Wilderness Act protects nearly 110 million acres of wilderness areas in states throughout the United States of America (this is a nation law).
Howard Zahniser
The Wilderness Act being signed into law.
What is wilderness?
The National Wilderness Preservation System enforces the Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act Rules Sign
Important Dates
1968: The first US Fish and Wildlife Service Wilderness is designated (Great Swamp Wilderness in New Jersey).
1968: First New National Forest Wilderness Established
1970: First National Park Wilderness Area Designated
1970: National Environmental Policy Enacted
1972: First Citizen-Proposed Wilderness Designated
1975: Eastern Wilderness Areas Act Becomes Law
1978: 1.3 Million of Wilderness Designated
1980: 2.3 Million Acres Wilderness Area Established
1984: 8 Million Acres Designated as Wilderness
1994: 7.7 Million Acres Selected for protection
2001: Roadless Area Conservation Rule Enacted
2004: 14 Wilderness Desigantions in Nevada
2004: Wilderness Desinated in Wisconsin and Puerto Rico
Strengths/Successes
- Bills have been passed to select new wilderness areas in Utah, Colorado, Washington, California, Virginia, West Virginia, Montana, New Hampshire, and Idaho.
- The U.S. Forest Service has made recommendations that would designate new wilderness areas. These recommendations have been to be expanded by many citizens.
- The Wilderness Act, itself is considered to be one of America's greatest conservation achievements.
Weaknesses
Suggestions for Improvements
Many places all over the world are depleting its wilderness of its nutrients and natural beauty. If the Wilderness Act were to become an international law (one enforced by the United Nations), these places could be conserved for future generations.
References
Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). Wilderness Act of 1964. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/wildrns.html
Western Heritage Alliance. (n.d.). Western Heritage Alliance. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://www.peopleforwesternheritage.com/PFWHWildernessAct.htm
Wilderness.org. (n.d.). Wilderness.org. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://wilderness.org/article/wilderness-act