Wilderness in the Circumpolar North: Searching for Compatibility in Ecological, Traditional, and Ecotourism Values; 2001 May 15–16; Anchorage, AK
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
United States Department of Agriculture Wilderness in the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Circumpolar North: Research Station Proceedings Searching for Compatibility Report RMRS-P-26 September 2002 in Ecological, Traditional, and Ecotourism Values 2001 May 15–16; Anchorage, Alaska Abstract ________________________________________________________ Watson, Alan E.; Alessa, Lilian; Sproull, Janet, comps. 2002. Wilderness in the Circumpolar North: searching for compatibility in ecological, traditional, and ecotourism values; 2001 May 15–16; Anchorage, AK. Proceedings RMRS-P-26. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 143 p. There are growing pressures on undeveloped (wild) places in the Circumpolar North. Among them are pressures for economic development, oil and gas exploration and extraction, development of geothermal energy resources, development of heavy industry close to energy sources, and lack of appreciation for “other” orientations toward wilderness resources by interested parties from broad geographical origins. An international seminar in Anchorage, Alaska, in May of 2001, was the first step in providing basic input to an analysis of the primary set of values associated with Circumpolar North wilderness and the constraints and contributors (factors of influence) that either limit or facilitate receipt of those values to various segments of society. Keywords: biodiversity, tourism, wilderness, conflict, collaboration, culture, traditional ecological knowledge The Compilers Alan E. Watson is the Research Social Scientist with the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute and Executive Editor for Science for the International Journal of Wilderness. The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute is an interagency (Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey) unit administered by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. The Leopold Institute is located on the campus of the University of Montana, Missoula. Dr. Watson’s research interests are primarily in understanding the values humans associate with wilderness, experience quality, and conflicts arising from divergent orientations toward wilderness resources. As a Fulbright Scholar at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland in Finland in 1999, Dr. Watson became intimately involved in Circumpolar North wilderness research issues. Dr. Lilian Alessa recently received her Ph.D. degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and is an Assistant Professor of Biology (Anchorage) and cross-appointed with the School of Natural Resources (Fairbanks) at the University of Alaska. She is an Interdisciplinary Scientist with a combined background in biology, sociology, and cognition. Dr. Alessa’s current research foci span three areas: (1) Integrated coastal zone management, specifically looking at the biological cost of small-scale human activities, such as recreation and tourism in the marine protected areas and their mitigation using education; (2) The role of uncertainty and culture in perceiving and managing natural environments; and (3) The effects of chlorinated fatty acids on cells of organisms living in cold environments. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Arctic Research Consortium (www.arcus.org) and is the cofounder (with Alan Watson) of the University of Alaska Center for Wild Lands and Waters. Dr. Alessa works internationally with resource managers, researchers, and industry. Janet Sproull is a Project Coordinator at the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute. Ms. Sproull co-coordinated technical symposia for the 6th and 7th World Wilderness Congresses (India and South Africa) and assisted with compilation of Congress Proceedings. As a dedicated conservationist, Ms. Sproull donates her time and expertise to several community organizations, including: local land trust, Save Open Space (SOS); the Missoula Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Board; and the Mount Jumbo Advisory Committee. Grant writing efforts by Ms. Sproull in 2001 have provided funding for improvements at City Wetlands Parks, and also for activation of an Integrated Pest Management Plan for two SOS conservation easements. Cover art by Neal Christensen (Polar bear and Inuit woman photographs by Hinrich Baesemann, www.polarfoto.de). Wilderness in the Circumpolar North: Searching for Compatibility in Ecological, Traditional, and Ecotourism Values 2001 May 15–16; Anchorage, Alaska Compilers Alan E. Watson Lilian Alessa Janet Sproull Sponsors USDA Forest Service, International National Science Foundation, Office of Programs; Rocky Mountain Research Polar Programs Station Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Institute Region USDI Bureau of Land Management, University of Alaska, Anchorage Alaska State Office University of Montana, Wilderness U.S. National Park Service, Alaska Institute Region Preface What began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the of Alaska, Anchorage, and Alan Watson of the Aldo Leopold United States to save some areas of the cultural and natural Wilderness Research Institute, the meeting also represented landscape as “wilderness” has spread to a worldwide move- a long-term commitment of the University of Montana’s Wil- ment. There are many ways wilderness character is protected derness Institute to supporting meetings that bring people today, including setting aside private holdings; state, pro- together to establish the current state-of-knowledge on cur- vincial, and national legislation; local land management rently important wilderness topics. The University of Mon- agency policies; collaborative, comanagement initiatives tana Wilderness Institute’s (Dr. Wayne Freimund, Director) among tribal and other government interests; and nongov- financial contribution to support travel of some participants ernmental organization actions. The international commu- to this seminar and Dr. Michael Patterson’s active participa- nity interested in the issues surrounding protecting wild- tion and attendance is gratefully acknowledged. lands as wilderness is united through the International Jour- A proposal to the National Science Foundation’s Office of nal of Wilderness (in its seventh year of publication) and the Polar Programs to support travel and facilities for this meet- World Wilderness Congress, which has meet seven times ing was awarded to the University of Alaska, Anchorage. This since 1977, in different locations around the world. Through financial support and continuous encouragement and review these media for interaction, we learn about the different sets of ideas by Dr. Fae Korsmo is gratefully acknowledged. of values ascribed to wilderness in different cultures and the Dr. Val Mezainis of the USDA Forest Service’s Office of evolving set of influences (both positive and negative) on pro- International Programs has shown continued interest and tection of these wilderness values. support of efforts to share information across countries where At the 5th World Wilderness Congress, in Tromsø, Norway, the wilderness concept is taking root. Financial support of in 1993, Rothenberg (1995) concluded that the only thing this international seminar from the Office of International agreed upon within the international group in attendance Programs is another indication of the strong commitment of was to disagree on the meanings of wilderness. A definition that office to building international cooperation to address that mostly focuses on the physical aspects of wilderness has protected area issues. been developed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN): Mr. Gary Edwards of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Large areas of unmodified or slightly modified land and/or Alaska Regional Office, was also a positive influence on the sea, retaining its natural character and influence, which is ability of the University of Alaska, Anchorage to host the protected and managed to preserve its natural condition. The international guests for this seminar. A financial contribution stated objectives are broad, extending from (1) future gen- to help bring the wilderness science and management com- eration enjoyment of areas that are relatively undisturbed munity in the Circumpolar North together and a commitment by humans to (2) maintaining natural attributes and quali- by Mr. Roger Kaye to help with organizational conceptualization ties, (3) providing appropriate public access for physical and is sincerely appreciated. spiritual well-being of visitors, and (4) enabling indigenous We also thank Mr. Neal Christensen for developing the communities to continue living at low density, and in bal- seminar logo, which was used for posters during the semi- ance with available resources. nar and appears on the cover of this proceedings. Liisa While the above definition aims at extension across cul- Morrison provided invaluable assistance in preparing for the tures, there is a need to be more specific in our understand- initial reception of international guests and assuring their ing of the values, constraints, and contributors to wilder- visit to Alaska was a good one. ness protection in many regions of the world. The purpose of Publication and distribution of these proceedings is spon- the group of papers presented in these proceedings is to pro- sored by the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, vide a focus on wilderness in the Circumpolar North. Invited U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Moun-