Image by Backpacker Editors

Image by Backpacker Editors

Image by Backpacker Editors

Image by Backpacker Editors

The Future

We asked experts what’s in store for the next 50 years. There’s a lot to be hopeful about—and some reasons for concern. Here’s the outlook on creating new wildernesses, and stewarding the old ones.

110 million acres—and growing

“America will always be designating more wilderness areas,” says Doug Scott, chair of the National Wilderness Stewardship Alliance. “Eventually, the system will hold double the land it does now.” Paul Spitler, director of campaigns for The Wilderness Society, agrees: “Demand is as strong as it’s ever been,” he says. “We might have seen the peak in the pace of wilderness designation [see “past”], but by no means are we near the end. There’s much more wilderness-caliber land [see “possible”] that’s deserving of protection—and has strong support.”

Past

Wilderness Designation Trends, 1964-2014
1980: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act adds 56 million acres.
2014: Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness, MI, added
2009-2013: Congressional gridlock; no designations

Possible

Potential Wilderness-Caliber Lands
Suitable lands checklist:
■ Federally owned
■ 5,000 acres or larger
■ No inhabited structures
■ No improved and maintained airstrips or roads
■ No current mining or major past ground disturbances
■ Good for camping, hiking, and solitude
■ Features of ecological, geological, scientific, education, scenic, or historic significance

Survey Says

Americans…*
51% – say there’s not enough wilderness.
67% – favor more wilderness in their own state.
71% – are likely to vote for a presidential candidate if his/ her position is supportive of wilderness protection.
98% – believe spending time in the wilderness has educational benefits.
*refer to the pie chart image above.
*from a variety of national surveys conducted by the USDA, Pew Charitable Trusts, Hart Research, and Zogby, 1999-
2013

Exlusive Company

Official wilderness status offers the strictest federal land protection (national parks and other preserves may contain wildernesses, but on their own they don’t provide such strong defense), but it’s very hard to get. That’s how Congress designed the rules in 1964, when it gave itself sole power to designate new areas. Jay Turner, a wilderness historian, says that the tough induction process is actually a gift. “It’s always been really hard to get Congress to do anything,” he explains. “You have to engage lots of folks at both the local and national levels. That has made w wilderness an enduring political effort defined by strong citizen engagement.” Even better: Once an area becomes wilderness, it’s “harder than hell to get an acre out,” Doug Scott, a leading activist, says (it’s only ever happened to correct uncontroversial boundary mistakes). Here’s how and where our next wilderness areas will join.

Where

Where Wild West: This part of the country is the hotbed of potential new wildernesses.

ALASKA: 57.4 million acres in 48 existing areas; 1.6 million acres proposed
HAWAII: 155,000 acres in 2 existing areas
EASTERN U.S.: 4.3 million acres in 180 existing areas; 17,000 acres proposed (in ME and TN)

On Deck

A few wilderness bills of note**

• Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act Introduced 2009; 22,000 acres Highlights Expands the popular Alpine Lakes Wilderness to include more low-elevation, oldgrowth forest. Info wawild.org
• Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act Introduced 1993; 23 million acres in five states Highlights Creates 164 new wildernesses, including within Yellowstone and Glacier. It lacks local congressional support, but we admire the dream. Info wildrockiesalliance.org
• America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act Int roduced 1989; 9.1 million acres Highlights Protects vast swaths of BLM land, including Desolation Canyon, Cedar Mesa, and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument; none of its many cosponsors are from Utah. Info suwa.org
• Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act Introduced 2013; 38,000 acres new wilderness plus 68,000 acres of “special management area” Highlights Includes 17 ecosystems in the San Juan Mountains outside of Durango, CO. Info hermosacreek.org

**The large-acreage bills are extreme long shots; watch for the more pragmatic proposals to move forward, perhaps even
this session.

To see HOW we can create new wilderness in 5 easy steps, Click Here.