Wilderness Act
-
What is the Wilderness Act?
The Wilderness Act is a U.S. environmental protection law from 1964 that created the National Wilderness Preservation System. It initially set aside 9 million acres of land from development and allowed for more acreage to be preserved. This act was a victory for the environmental movement, and since 1964, over 100 million acres have been added to the wilderness system.
The Act was the result of compromises, with strong opposition from mining, grazing, and timber interests. It took many revisions and President Lyndon Johnson’s support to get the bill enacted.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
When was the Wilderness Act passed in the United States?
The Wilderness Act, a U.S. environmental protection law, was passed in 1964. This Act created the National Wilderness Preservation System, initially setting aside 9 million acres (3.6 billion hectares) from development and enabling the preservation of additional acreage. It was a significant achievement for the environmental movement, leading to over 100 million acres (40 million hectares) being added to the wilderness system since its enactment. Between 1982 and 1988, President Reagan signed 43 bills designating more than 10 million acres of federal wilderness areas in 27 states. This accounted for nearly 10% of the National Wilderness Preservation System at the time. Reagan had signed more wilderness bills than any other president since the Wilderness Act was enacted in 1964.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the main purpose of the Wilderness Act?
The main purpose of the Wilderness Act of 1964 was to establish the National Wilderness Preservation System, initially setting aside 9 million acres of land from development and creating a process for preserving additional acreage. This landmark legislation aimed to protect wilderness areas, recognizing their value as a counterbalance to industrial civilization. Since its enactment, over 100 million acres have been added to the wilderness system.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How does the Wilderness Act protect natural areas?
The Wilderness Act of 1964 is a landmark U.S. environmental protection law that created the National Wilderness Preservation System. It initially set aside 9 million acres (3.6 billion hectares) from development and allowed for more acreage to be preserved.
The Act protects wilderness areas by preventing development and ensuring the land remains in its natural state. This provides a psychological counterbalance to industrial civilization for many people. The Act also recognizes the importance of preserving unique natural qualities, protecting habitats for wildlife, and providing opportunities for recreation, such as hiking and camping.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What activities are allowed and not allowed in wilderness areas created by the Act?
The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, initially setting aside 9 million acres from development and creating a process for preserving additional acreage. This landmark legislation aimed to protect wilderness areas as a counterbalance to industrial civilization.
The Act faced opposition from mining, grazing, and timber interests, leading to numerous compromises. Ultimately, the final bill included less acreage than initially proposed, allowed some exceptions for use, and required an act of Congress to add more land to the wilderness system.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has the Wilderness Act impacted conservation and land use in the United States?
The Wilderness Act of 1964 established the National Wilderness Preservation System, initially setting aside 9 million acres from development and enabling the preservation of additional land. This act marked a significant achievement for the environmental movement in the United States. Since its enactment, over 100 million acres have been incorporated into the wilderness system.
The Act has been a point of contention, pitting those who value wilderness for its psychological benefits against those who prioritize economic development and resource utilization. Despite strong opposition from mining, grazing, and timber industries, the Wilderness Act was enacted into law, though with compromises that reduced the initial acreage and required congressional approval for future additions to the wilderness system.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Wilderness Act, U.S. environmental protection legislation (1964) that created the National Wilderness Preservation System, setting 9 million acres (3.6 billion hectares) aside from development and providing a mechanism for additional acreage to be preserved. The Wilderness Act was a landmark victory for the environmental movement. Since 1964 more than 100 million acres (40 million hectares) have been made part of the wilderness system.
The legal protection of wilderness areas has always been controversial in the United States. On one side of the debate stand those who believe that wilderness serves as a much-needed psychological counterbalance to industrial civilization. On the other side stand those who understand American greatness in economic terms and consider it foolish to lock up valuable resources. Those two groups came into confrontation in the early 1950s as the federal government considered a plan to develop water and power resources in the West (the Colorado River Storage Project), including the proposed Echo Park Dam in Dinosaur National Monument. The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, and other environmental groups opposed the development on the grounds that the land should remain protected for its unique natural qualities and should not be developed. Environmentalists waged an aggressive and effective grassroots campaign to protect the national monument. In 1955 the Echo Park Dam was removed from the plan for the Colorado River Storage Project.
After the battle over Echo Park, Howard Zahniser—an officer of the Wilderness Society who worked to convince Congress to pass federal wilderness legislation—proposed that environmentalists take the offensive and offer a legislative plan to permanently protect wilderness. Zahniser was convinced that public opinion favoured the cause of the environmentalists. He drew up a bill that would place all wildlands and primitive areas (a primarily historical designation for unspoiled land without roads or public accommodations) in a special wilderness system protected from development and provide a means to add land from national parks, monuments, and other federally protected lands and Indian reservations. The initial bill would have placed many millions of acres into the wilderness system. He solicited opinions from numerous individuals both in and out of government. Zahniser envisioned that additions to the system would be suggested and approved by a board made up of environmental organizations and government agencies.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
In 1956 Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, a Democrat from Minnesota, and Rep. John Saylor, a Republican from Pennsylvania, introduced 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. It took Pres. Lyndon Johnson’s open support and a great many compromises to get the final bill enacted into law. Under the final provisions, far less acreage was included in the system, some exceptions were made for use, and an act of Congress was required to add more land to the wilderness system. While pleased that they were able to gain protection for wilderness, environmentalists were somewhat disappointed with how much compromise they had to make in their quest to get the landmark bill through Congress.