Why protect wilderness
Wilderness Designation
Congress can give public lands permanent protection by designating them as wilderness. A wilderness designation helps ensure treasured lands from coast to coast are protected for future generations.
Wilderness designation is the highest form of protection the government can give to a public land. No roads, vehicles or permanent structures are allowed in designated wilderness. A wilderness designation also prohibits activities like logging or mining.
Wilderness is designated through wilderness bills and through local, on-the-ground campaigns. The revolutionary Wilderness Act, introduced in 1964, gives Congress the power to protect a public land with a wilderness designation.
What is wilderness
Wilderness belongs to us. Protected wilderness has no roads, no development — it is our last unspoiled, natural refuge from the urban world. It’s our job to make sure wilderness thrives for generations to come.
Why protect wilderness
Since the Wilderness Act passed in 1964, Congress has designated nearly 110 million acres of federal wildlands as official wilderness. Official wilderness has the highest form of protection of any federal wildland.
How we designate wilderness
We work with local grassroots coalitions on campaigns to build support for wilderness and other conservation designations, both on the local and congressional levels.
Issues and threats
There are persistent issues and threats related to wilderness, from fires to grazing. Because these issues each impact wilderness differently, they require individual analysis and attention.
Current campaigns and legislation
Every year, new and existing wilderness designation campaigns emerge to protect America’s treasured wildlands.
Wilderness Act
The revolutionary 1964 Wilderness Act gave Congress the power to permanently protect public lands as wilderness.
Wilderness Designation FAQs
Want to know more about wilderness? Check out our Wilderness FAQs.
Notes from the Hill
Stay current on legislation moving in Congress, issues affecting wilderness and wilderness designation campaigns with our Notes from the Hill.
Take Action
Add your voice to important wilderness causes and take action to stop threats to our wildlands by joining our community of wilderness activists.
Policy and Science Library
Find fact sheets, reports and other resources related to wilderness policy and conservation.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013If the Senate is any indication, your support of wilderness bills may meet success this year.
Saturday, June 15, 2013Planning a vacation this summer? Be sure to pen in some time for Wilderness during your travels!
Whether you intend to visit a major city, or you live in one and are looking for a quick weekend trip, a visit to Wilderness may be just what you need to unwind and relax.
Friday, June 14, 2013Just as you rely on wild places to rejuvenate and restore you, those places rely on you to keep them in good condition.
Friday, June 14, 2013A final plan for the SunZia transmission project raises serious concerns about impacts to Arizona’s sensitive San Pedro Valley.
Friday, June 7, 2013The memorandum specifically calls on federal agencies to collaborate on identifying suitable places on public lands that avoid sensitive na
Wednesday, May 15, 2013Yet, here we are, with people and the government unable to stop furloughs, job losses, and lower revenue to keep the government functioning. Our public lands have certainly not been spared from this indiscriminate budget ax.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013Like a dutiful sentinel, the lookout quietly watches over the wild, waiting for visitors to make their way through beautiful alpine meadows to the summit of Green Mountain.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013But Alaska’s Sen. Lisa Murkowski refused to accept that decision. She and residents of the tiny community of King Cove are fighting to have the decision overturned.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013Birdwatchers travel from far and wide to northwest Colorado to see male sage-grouse strut their stuff in hopes of attracting a mate. Early spring is prime season to catch these timid grouse dancing on the lek and shaking their tail feathers through organized tours.
A support letter for H.R. 908/S. 404, the Green Mountain Lookout Heritage Protection Act, introduced in February by Reps. DelBene and Larsen and Sens. Murray and Cantwell.
Dear Representative Gosar:
On behalf of the National Association of Counties (NACo), I am writing to express our support of the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (H.R. 596). This landmark legislation would extend royalties and lease income from solar and wind projects developed on Federal lands to home states and counties.
Dear Representative Gosar:
We are writing to express our support for sharing with states and counties renewable energy royalty revenues from federal lands. The language contained in the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (HR 596) which you have introduced in the House would enact such revenue sharing.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013Contacts:
Alan Rowsome, (202)285-8134, alan_rowsome@tws.org
Emily Diamond-Falk, (202) 841-8605, emily_diamond-falk@tws.org
WASHINGTON (June 18, 2013) – The Wilderness Society today took a position on several bills being marked-up in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Friday, June 14, 2013A final plan for the SunZia Southwest transmission project was released today by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) identifying the agency’s preferred routes in Arizona and New Mexico.
- Friday, June 14, 2013
Ken Salazar receives Ansel Adams Award
Washington, DC (June 14, 2013) – Former Colorado Senator and Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar, received the Ansel Adams Award on Thursday for his enduring dedication and commitment to America’s wild public lands.
The Ansel Adams Award is presented to a current or former federal official who has shown exceptional commitment to the cause of conservation and the fostering of an American land ethic.