Wilderness Report #124 (9/3/04)

Wilderness Report #124
September 3, 2004

A bi-weekly update on the happenings in the Wilderness movement brought to you by the Wilderness Society's Wilderness Support Center.

In This Issue

40th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act Special!

"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 herby 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."
- The Wilderness Act, Section 2 (a).

On this day 40 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law. The measure which is one of our country's hallmark conservation laws, created the National Wilderness Preservation System, which showcases and protects in perpetuity our nation's natural crown jewels. We salute all those who worked tirelessly to see the Wilderness Act passed as well as the thousands of volunteers, organizations and decision makers who have worked over the last forty years and will continue to work in the future to use the Wilderness Act to provide Americans with an "enduring resource of wilderness."

40th Anniversary of Wilderness Generates News Nationwide

As the Wilderness Act turns 40 (on September 3, 2004), wilderness advocates have been working hard to generate media coverage of important anniversary and highlight the on-going efforts of concerned citizens to use the Wilderness Act to safeguard areas in there backyard. Editorials and articles have been running in papers across the country and radio and television outlets, from large national outlets like NPR and PBS to small local television stations, have been covering this Anniversary.

New Book

A new book on the history of wilderness and the Wilderness Act was just released to coincide with the celebrations this month surrounding the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. The book, "The Enduring Wilderness: Protecting Our Natural Heritage through the Wilderness Act" is written by well-known wilderness historian and advocate Doug Scott. The book provides an up-to-the-minute look at how America has preserved nearly 106 million acres of diverse wilderness areas in 44 states by statutory law and how much more will be preserved. All royalties for this book go to support wilderness activism by grassroots environmental organizations. To order a copy of "The Enduring Wilderness" please visit:

September Wilderness Celebrations in our Nation's Capital

This September, more than 300 wilderness activists from around the nation will gather up their maps, pack their bags, and come to Wilderness Week, an historic gathering of wilderness advocates in the nation's capital to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

Wilderness Act Turns 40

Statement of William H. Meadows, President, The Wilderness Society, on the 40th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964.