Wilderness Viewpoints Anthropocentric vs Biocentric Evolution of Wilderness

Wilderness Viewpoints Anthropocentric vs. Biocentric

Evolution of Wilderness System n n n 1872 - Designation of Yellowstone 1913 – Hetch-Hetchy 1916 – Establishment of National Park Service

Evolution of Wilderness System n 1929: L-20 Regulation on FS lands n Permitted uses today considered incompatible with wilderness but made it more difficult to implement them: n n logging grazing road construction mechanical devices

Evolution of Wilderness System n 1935: Wilderness Society formed by Bob Marshall and Aldo Leopold

Evolution of Wilderness System n 1939: U regulations on Forest Service land n Bob Marshall (Chief, F. S. Div. of Rec. and Lands) n Three use categories: n n U-1: Wilderness (> 100, 000 acres) U-2: Wild areas (5, 000 to 100, 000 acres) U-3: Roadless areas (managed for rec. use) Grazing & mining permitted

Evolution of Wilderness System n n 1956: Howard Zahniser (Director of Wilderness Society) proposes first wilderness bill 1964: Wilderness Act finally passed by Congress

National Wilderness System Wilderness Act of 1964 Created a national wilderness system. Bob Marshall Wilderness Area

Wilderness Area “An area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. ” Wilderness Act, 1964 Sunlight Basin, Shoshone NF

Wilderness Criteria n n 5, 000 acres minimum or adequate size to make preservation possible. Unnoticeable human impact. Opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. May contain features of ecological, geological, scientific, educational, historic, or scenic value.

Wilderness Study Areas n n Areas being considered for designation as wilderness areas. Undergo a formal study of their resources to assess their suitability for wilderness designation.

National Wilderness System Eastern Wilderness Act of 1975 n n n Made it possible to designate areas in the eastern U. S. as wilderness. Less stringent concerning human impacts. Smaller parcels allowed (1, 000 acres minimum).

Wilderness Managers n n National Park Service US Forest Service US Fish & Wildlife Service Bureau of Land Management

Designation n n Wilderness Study Areas designated by President. Wilderness Areas designated by Congress.

Is this use permitted? n n n n n Grazing? Roads? Mechanical devices? Buildings? Timber harvesting? Mining? Fire control? Wilderness outfitters & guides? Aircraft use?

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain: 1. 5 million acres

Brooks Range, ANWR

Gwich’in Indians Inupiat Eskimos