The wilderness that has come to us from the eternity of the past, we have the boldness to project into the eternity of the future. – Howard Zahniser Wilderness is more than just a pretty place It’s a modern-day ark, protecting a critical mass of species to sustain a healthy web of life. And here in western , wilderness is responsible for a big part of our high quality of life. It provides Our turf wilderness is us with clean water and air, adventure, solitude, scenery and – directly The Wilderness Workshop is the only nonprofit organization a modern-day ark and indirectly – economic working full-time for the ecological health of public lands prosperity. We who in the greater White River National Forest region. From the benefit from wilderness rugged to the undulating Flat Tops, from the also have a responsibility imposing Roan Plateau to the Eisenhower Tunnel, these lands to maintain it – for now lie at the heart of the Southern Rockies ecosystem. They and for future generations, include eight federally designated wilderness areas, as well as for humans and for the many other areas proposed for wilderness designation. critters that depend on it.

Post Office Box 1442 carbondale, CO 81623 tel {970} 963-3977 fax {970} 963-8447 [email protected] www.wildernessworkshop.org

DESIGN AND PRODUCTION words pictures colours graphic design

PHOTO CREDITS Colorado Rocky Mountain School young backpacker “Wild for Good” is a Richard Compton view from Red Table; golden aspens John Fielder elephants’ heads in Raggeds Wilderness; Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness in winter; rallying cry for all who Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness in early summer; Collegiate Peaks Wilderness at sunset David Hiser sunrise over American Lake; wilderness boundary sign love untrammeled nature. Janis Huggins moss campion in bloom Todd Patrick elk; mother bear and cub protecting wild places and wildlife Join the Wilder ne ss Aron Ralston mountain lion Riccardo Savi Maroon Bells at first light; aspen leaves; bighorn sheep for their sake — and for ours If you love wild places Workshop and display Brad Yule tent pitched near treeline; kids in tent please support the the WFG logo with pride. Printed on 100% PCW recycled paper Wilderness Workshop The idea of wilderness needs no defense. It only needs more defenders. — Edward Abbey

wild lands Defending, restoring Going wild The best defense under threat and “rewilding” is a good offense The Wilderness Workshop defends public wild lands from since 1967 We defend wilderness through a mix of advocacy, scientific It would be nice if wild places could just look after themselves new threats, and helps restore the functional wildness of a study and public outreach: – but in a world crowded by humans, they can’t. Roads landscape fragmented by human activity. We monitor the Founded in 1967, the Wilderness Workshop has earned j j advocating for expanded wilderness. We’re leading fragment wildlife habitat. A booming local population means health of existing wilderness areas, advocate for expanding a national reputation for passionate advocacy, grassroots j a campaign to add approximately 300,000 acres of more visitors to the backcountry and an explosion of off-road wilderness, defend roadless areas from development that effectiveness, and scientific authority. Some of our wilderness on the White River National Forest and vehicle use. Logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling degrade would destroy their wilderness character, and protect the accomplishments: nearby public lands. ecosystems, increase pollution, and irreversibly alter the ecological integrity of all federal public lands in our area. The Hunter-Fryingpan, Collegiate Peaks and Raggeds j Fighting threats to ecologically sensitive public lands, landscape. All of these activities have their place, but they Although focused on the White River National Forest Wilderness Areas were established, and the Maroon j j j including energy development, timber sales and don’t need to happen everywhere. At least a few special places and environs, our local work is a small part of a visionary Bells-Snowmass Wilderness was doubled in size. irresponsible motorized recreation. should remain wild. And especially in an area like ours – which movement to reconnect wildlife habitats and “rewild” Over 640,000 acres on the White River National Forest j Monitoring the health of wilderness – and quantifying serves as a crucial link in one of the continent’s major biological landscapes on a continental scale. were recommended for federal roadless-area protections. j the impacts to wilderness character – through air and corridors – nature needs a strong, independent advocate. Snowmass Creek was granted a minimum stream flow, j water sampling and invasive weed inventorying. limiting diversions for snowmaking. watchdogging the bureaucrats – in other words, Thousands of acres of sensitive wildlife habitat have been j j holding federal land managers to their own regulations. spared from gas drilling, logging and other development. j educating the public and decision-makers about wilderness and wildlife through grassroots organizing, local political processes and media coverage.