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The Value of Wilderness: Why Do You Care So Much?

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The Value of Wilderness: Why Do You Care So Much? The Value of Wilderness: Why Do You Care So Much? Ralph Swain R2 Wilderness Program Manager R2 Wild & Scenic Rivers Coordinator [email protected] 303-275-5058 George Duffy Wilderness Act – Section 2(a) • In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. Map Showing the Night Skies of the United States Wilderness Leaders John Muir Bob Marshall Aldo Leopold Howard Zahniser Why Do You Value Wilderness? • Muir – spiritual value • Marshall – recreation value • Leopold – ecological value • Zahniser – legacy value John Muir • “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” Bob Marshall • “For me and for thousands with similar inclinations, the most important passion of life is the overpowering desire to escape periodically from the clutches of a mechanistic civilization. To us the enjoyment of solitude, complete independence, and the beauty of undefiled panoramas is absolutely essential to happiness.” Aldo Leopold’s SCA Aldo Leopold • “We abuse the land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see the land as a community to which we belong we may begin to use it with love and respect.” Howard Zahniser (ZON-i-ser) • Executive Secretary of The Wilderness Society, 1946-1964 • Principal author of the Wilderness Act Are You Married? •“I do” • … but this might be temporary • ….this might not be forever! Wilderness Review – 25 years “To make it tentative – every 25 years – is to be as dubious in a Wilderness Act as in a marriage vow would be inclusion of a similar periodic review.” Living Wilderness, 1961 Only 10% of the land area is remote (more than 48 hours from a large city) Travel time to major cities in hours (and days) and shipping lane density. NATIONAL WILDERNESS VALUES RESEARCH Ken Cordell Senior Scientist Forest Service Research Athens, GA www.srs.fs.fed.us/recreation [email protected] Graphics by Shela Mou Why Do You Value Wilderness? -Personally -Professionally New What Americans Value About Data Wilderness Percentage Saying It Is Extremely Slightly or Not Wilderness Value Important Important Protecting air quality 58.4 1.5 Protecting water quality 55.9 1.5 Protecting wildlife habitat 52.7 3.1 Protecting endangered species 49.8 5.0 Legacy for future generations 49.1 3.1 Preserving unique ecosystems and genetics 44.3 5.1 Future option to visit 37.5 7.1 Just knowing it is preserved 36.9 6.4 Providing scenic beauty 35.4 5.5 Providing recreation opportunities 27.8 7.2 Providing spiritual inspiration 25.9 16.7 Undisturbed area for scientific study 23.9 11.6 Providing income for tourism industry 9.7 33.5 For Wilderness Protecting air quality Protecting water quality Protecting wildlife habitat Protecting T&E species Legacy for future generations 1964 – 2014 UNITED STATES POPULATION IN MILLIONS 350 300 1964 – 191,889,000 250 1974 – 213,854,000 200 IN IN MILLIONS 1984 – 236,348,000 150 1994 – 263,436,000 100 POPULATION 2004 – 293,045,000 50 2014 – 322,423,000 0 [PROJECTED] 1964 1974 1984 1994 2004 2014 SIGNING OF YEAR 50th ANNIVERSARY WILDERNESS ACT OF WILDERNESS ACT Future Wilderness Hotspots (2020) Population Pressures on Counties with Wilderness Index of Population x Wilderness Interactions Negligible Light Moderate Moderately heavy Heavy National Forest Wilderness Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Fish & Wildlife Service Wilderness National Park Service Wilderness The National Wilderness Preservation System 1964-2012 Currently there are 757 areas covering approximately 110 million acres. All but six States: MC- DIRK: -Maine -Connecticut -Delaware -Iowa -Rhode Island -Kansas Your Job “You are engaged in no less than preserving the nation’s precious remaining repositories of wildness and guarding the permanent home of our human spirit.” The Value of Wilderness Increases Daily • Wilderness is a mirror of mankind, revealing the way we value ourselves and the resources of the world around us. It is not the fault of the mirror if it reflects our blemishes as clearly as our beauty. Wilderness Work • Your work is connected to the land • Everything connected to land is connected to everything else • Work of the Soul – count your nights under the stars! • Passion outstrips GS level, never say “just” • It is ok to be passionate about wilderness • It is ok to be an advocate for wilderness but know both sides of every issue – respect other’s values Tomorrow’s Leaders Map Showing the Night Sky of the Western US 2000 – 2014 CALIFORNIA POPULATION IN MILLIONS 40 39 38 37 2000 – 33,871,648 36 2004 – 35,558,419 35 34 2008 – 36,756,666 33 2014 – 40,000,000 POPULATION MILLIONS IN POPULATION [PROJECTED] 32 31 30 2000 2004 2008 2014 YEAR 50th ANNIVERSARY OF WILDERNESS ACT Map Showing the Night Sky of the Western US with National Forest Locations INYO NF .
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