The President then makes a recommendation to Congress on additional wilderness designations, in response to which Congress can designate the identified lands as wilderness, release the lands from wilderness designation, or take no action on the recommendation. 16 U.S.C.
Who introduced the Wilderness Act?
Howard Zahniser was the legendary leader of The Wilderness Society who authored the original Wilderness Act. Zahniser led The Wilderness Society through two decades of wilderness battles and landmark accomplishments.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, a national network of more than 800 federally-designated wilderness areas. These wilderness areas are managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Forest Service .
What is required to designate a federal wilderness area?
Wilderness Act land is chosen from existing federal land and by determining which areas are considered to have the following criteria: Minimal human imprint . Opportunities for unconfined recreation . At least five thousand acres .
Do wilderness areas need congressional approval?
(Congressional approval) Each recommendation of the President for designation as “wilderness” shall become effective only if so provided by an Act of Congress .
What are the 6 public purposes of wilderness?
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use .
What is the legal definition of wilderness?
Wilderness or wild land is an intact or undisturbed natural environment . A place legally protected to remain wild, free of industrial infrastructure, and open to traditional indigenous use, or low impact recreation. ...
Who opposed the wilderness bill?
By May 1964 the bill had been rewritten 66 times, and more than 6,000 pages of testimony had been collected in congressional committees. The strongest opposition had come from western mining, grazing, and timber interests .
Who designates wilderness?
Wilderness areas are managed by four federal land management agencies: the National Park Service , the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.
Why is wilderness controversial?
Wilderness designations can be controversial because the Wilderness Act (and subsequent laws) restricts the allowed uses of the land within designated areas . In general, the Wilderness Act prohibits commercial activities, motorized access, and roads, structures, and facilities in wilderness areas.
What are the four federal agencies that manage the wilderness?
Today this wilderness system has 757 wildernesses on nearly 110 million acres in 44 states and Puerto Rico. Four federal agencies manage this network of wilderness: the USDA Forest Service, and the DOI Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service .
What is not allowed on designated wilderness land?
Under 36 CFR 261.18, the following are prohibited in a Wilderness: • Possessing or using a motor vehicle, motorboat or motorized equipment except as authorized by Federal Law or regulation . Possessing or using a hang glider or bicycle. ... Possessing or using a wagon, cart, bicycle or other vehicle.
What is federally designated wilderness?
Since the Wilderness Act passed in 1964, Congress has designated 111 million acres of federal wildlands as official wilderness. ... A designated wilderness area receives the government’s highest level of land protection and becomes part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
What does the 1964 Wilderness Act provide for quizlet?
The Wilderness Act of 1964: , special provisions, Landing of aircraft and use of motorboats may be permitted in wilderness if previously established . The Wilderness Act allows for fire suppression when necessary. The President may authorize water development in wilderness under certain circumstances.
How many acres were originally set aside under the Wilderness Act?
The Wilderness Act established the legal definition of wilderness in the United States as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” The act originally set aside 9.1 million acres of federal land as protected wilderness areas, which ...
How much land is considered wilderness?
There aren’t many corners of the world left untouched by humanity. Recent research has highlighted that just 23% of the planet’s land surface (excluding Antarctica) and 13% of the ocean can now be classified as wilderness, representing nearly a 10% decline over the last 20 years.
