This act established the national wilderness preservation system and instructed federal land management agencies, including the national park service nps, to manage wilderness areas and preserve wilderness character. Created a nwps and established a process for adding new areas. In 2001, the usfs wilderness monitoring committee developed the first national framework for wilderness character monitoring wcm. The wilderness act of 1964 is an environmental law that protects pristine natural lands in the united states. Complete text of the wilderness act public law 88577. The story of the 1964 wilderness actits birth, support, and. Colorado wilderness act of 2018 congresswoman diana. The wilderness act and the problem of wildlife restoration by sean kammer the wilderness act of 1964 calls for the preservation of certain. This includes provisions in the act that may seem to conflict with the prohibitions in section 4c. Gila wilderness became the first area recognized as wilderness in 1924, when usfs preserved the land through an administrative process following insistence by aldo leopold. The wilderness act of 1964 after much debate and compromiseafter 66 drafts, 18 public hearings8 years, congress in 1964 passed the wilderness act and established the national wilderness preservation system in 1964, 9.
Pdf the formulation and enactment of the wilderness act of 1964 is consistent with elite economic theory. Originally designated in the wilderness act of 1964, the boundary waters canoe area wilderness bwcaw is a 1,090,000acre federal wilderness area located within the superior national forest superior n. It later became the first congressionally designated wilderness area in 1964 following passage of the wilderness act. The secretary of agriculture shall within one year after september 3, 1964, file a map and legal description of each wilderness. The national wilderness act was passed in 1964, and the bwca became part of the national wilderness preservation system. Learning objectives students will be able to 1 explain why the wilderness act of 1964 was passed. Colorado wilderness act of 2018 congresswoman diana degette. Document resume borrie, william t roggenbuck, joseph w. The special provision of grazing in the wilderness act of 1964. Sustainable trails coalition december 23, 2015 the wilderness act of 1964 it is certain that growing mechanization had nothing to do with human powered bicycling, while bicycling is certainly a manner for americans to use and enjoy wilderness, without impairing future use and enjoyment of the protected lands. The wilderness act was a landmark victory for the environmental movement. Fish and wildlife service wilderness act wilderness act of 1964 16 u. Federal lands protected under the wilderness act are defined as an area where the earth.
All wilderness designations can be made only by congress and in accordance with the wilderness act, which was signed into law in 1964 by president johnson. The story of the 1964 wilderness actits birth, support. Text from the wilderness act of 1964 section 4c prohibition of certain uses. The wilderness act of 1964 was a milestone in the preservation of selfwilled land in the united states and was a beacon for many other countries, including the european union. The culmination of his wilderness writing and political lobbying was the wilderness act of 1964. A clause in the act allowed some logging and motor use within the wilderness to continue. In 1976, with the passage of the federal land policy and management act flpma, congress made the bureau of. The wilderness act and the problem of wildlife restoration by sean kammer the wilderness act of 1964 calls for the preservation of certain areas in their natural, untrammeled condition.
The five qualities of wilderness character identified in the wilderness act of 1964 are. Bureau of land management blm issues two mineral leases covering nearly 5,000 acres of the superior national forest adjacent to the bwcaw for a term of 20 years. The wilderness act of 1964 established the national wilderness preservation system in the united states, now comprising more than 680 units with a total of 106 million acres 42. Digest of federal resource laws of interest to the u.
The wilderness act and the problem of wildlife restoration. For a more fully developed historical account of the background and history of the wilderness preservation movement in america and of the wilderness act of 1964, see r. Learn wilderness act of 1964 with free interactive flashcards. Zahniser worked for the bureau of biological survey a precursor to the fish and wildlife service and the department of the interior, wrote for nature magazine, and eventually managed the wilderness society and edited its magazine, living wilderness. Following passage of the wilderness act in 1964, the forest service initiated a. Rossberg 1151 views 0 comment usa, video the wilderness act of 1964 was a milestone in the preservation of selfwilled land in the united states and was a beacon for many other countries, including the european union. Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing pdf files within the browser window. The story of the 1964 wilderness actits birth, support, and challenges. The european wilderness society learned a lot from the principles and criteria used in the united states and adopted them to the european situation. Boundary waters wilderness protection and pollution. Except as specifically provided for in this act, and subject to existing private rights, there shall be no commercial enterprise and no permanent road within any wilderness area designated by this act and, except as necessary to meet minimum requirements for the administration of the area for. The latest versions of adobe reader do not support viewing pdf files within firefox on mac os and if you are using a modern intel mac. Designates 31 areas in colorado as wilderness and two areas as potential wilderness, totaling more than 740,000 acres. September 3, 1964, not less than twothirds within seven years after september 3, 1964, and the remaining areas within ten years after september 3, 1964.
Nathan stephenson and constance millar recently pointed to the wildness. Boundary waters canoe area wilderness bwcaw mnopedia. The wilderness act of 1964 calls for the preservation of certain areas in their. Wilderness act 1964 the wilderness act of 1964 established the national wilderness preservation system, an area of land that now encompasses over 95 million acres 38. As americas most visited wilderness area, the bwcaw includes more than 1,200 miles of canoe routes. The following is a summary description of these criteria. Pdf the wilderness act of 1964 and the wilderness preservation. The 1964 wilderness act defines wilderness as areas where the earth and its communities of life are left unchanged by people, where the primary forces of nature are in control, and where people themselves are visitors who do not remain.
The act contains specific guidelines for setting aside and protecting undeveloped federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness and to create a formal mechanism for designating wilderness, the wilderness act was signed into law. Articles federal wild lands policy in the twentyfirst. Thus, attention has focused on undesignated wild lands, that is. Boundary waters canoe area wilderness bwcaw designated by. Weyerhaeuser book award as a central figure in the american wilderness preservation movement in the midtwentieth century, howard zahniser 1906 1964 was the person most responsible for the landmark wilderness act of 1964. Each recommendation of the president for designation as wilderness shall become effective only if so provided by an act of congress. Wilderness is a designation that seeks to protect remaining tracts of relatively undisturbed forest service land. Whereas, the wilderness act of 1964 brought into being americas national wilderness preservation system, federal lands to be administered for the use and enjoyment of the american people in such manner as will leave federal lands unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness, and will provide for the protection of these areas and the. After much debate and compromiseafter 66 drafts, 18 public hearings8 years, congress in 1964 passed the wilderness act and established the national wilderness preservation system. The right to experience, the responsibility to protect young voices for wilderness. The criteria are size, natural condition, and opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation. Jamie leads the wilderness society in its mission to inspire americans to care for our wild places. The article is by howard zahniser, who is also the acts main author.
Mindful of our increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, congress passed the 1964 wilderness act in order to preserve and protect certain lands in their natural condition and thus secure for present and future generations the benefits of wilderness. The next pages contain more information on each quality of wilderness character. Choose from 1 different sets of wilderness act of 1964 flashcards on quizlet. The purpose is to maintain these lands as untouched and wild as possible. Johnson signed the wilderness act into law on september 3, 1964. After completing the 1964 wilderness act module, you will be able to recognize how. Original text of the wilderness act of 1964 which was amended. President jamie williams joined the wilderness society in 2012.
Created a nwps and established a process for adding new areas 2014 109. These wilderness areas are managed by the national park service, bureau of land management, us fish and wildlife service, and us forest service. Winner of the forest history societys 2006 charles a. George field office now manages nearly 2,000 acres of designated wilderness in 15 wilderness areas ranging in size from the 32acre taylor creek wilderness. The wilderness act wilderness connect university of. Wilderness programs should seek to capture the qualities of a wilderness experience that separate it from other outdoor activities. May 12, 2015 mindful of our increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, congress passed the 1964 wilderness act in order to preserve and protect certain lands in their natural condition and thus secure for present and future generations the benefits of wilderness. Wilderness fellow a c o mmu n it y o f p r a c t ic e. In so doing, wilderness programs should move beyond the goals of the wilderness act of 1964 to provide outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation. Articles federal wild lands policy in the twentyfirst century. Jan, 2020 my father howard zahniser, who died four months before the 1964 wilderness act became law 50 years ago this september 3, was the chief architect of, and lobbyist for, this landmark act. Section 4d3 of the wilderness act, which became law on september 3, 1964, allowed the mining law of 1872, 30 u. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the united states, and protected 9.
But controversy over increased logging and road building in unprotected roadless areas during the 1950s led to calls for permanent legislative designation of wilderness. This commercial enterprise is explicitly allowed to continue in section 4d42 of the act. The wilderness act sets aside designated wilderness areas for recreational or scientific use or use as. The 1964 wilderness act, written by the wilderness societys howard zahniser created the national wilderness preservation system, which protects 111 million acres of wilderness areas from coast to coast.
The wilderness act of 1964 established the national wilderness preservation system, a national network of more than 400 federallydesignated wilderness areas. My father howard zahniser, who died four months before the 1964 wilderness act became law 50 years ago this september 3, was the chief architect of, and lobbyist for, this landmark act. Wilderness act of 1964 flashcards and study sets quizlet. Wilderness areas act, protecting 207,000 acres of wilderness on national forests in the east, south and midwest. Be it enacted by the senat e and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled. Act as wilderness shall be administered by the secretary of the lnterior in accordance with the applicable provisions of the wilderness act. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness and to create a formal mechanism for designating. Minimum criteria for wilderness united states fish and. Wilderness areas are administered for the use and enjoyment of the american people in such manner as will. The wilderness system, 41 living wilderness magazine 41 1975. Statutory provisions and prohibited and permitted uses congressional research service summary the 1964 wilderness act established a national wilderness preservation system of federal lands where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.
Over the past 50 years, and as a result of americas support. Congress rejects the view that oncelogged or inhabited lands can never qualify for wilderness act protection. Mechanical transport, a clause in the 1964 wildereness. It later became the first congressionally designated wilderness area in. Interpreting the wilderness act of 1964 by gordon steinhoff. Mar 24, 2020 the wilderness act of 1964 established the national wilderness preservation system, a national network of more than 400 federallydesignated wilderness areas. Further, the designation of any area of any park, monument, or other unit of the national park system as a wilderness area pursuant to this act shall in no manner lower the standards evolved for the use and preservation of such park, monument, or other unit of the national park system in accordance with the. Boilerplate language in subsequent wilderness laws applies this provision by extension to all areas in the national wilderness preservation system. The wilderness act was passed in 1964, signed into law by president lyndon b. The 1964 wilderness act this course is an indepth study of the 1964 wilderness act. Section 2c of the wilderness act defines wilderness as an area that. Today, there are over 109 million acres of wilderness, an. To establish a national wilderness preservation system for the.
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