About Wilderness Under Siege
Wilderness Under Siege
A wave of harmful bills in Congress is putting half a billion acres of wilderness at risk. You can help stop this great outdoors giveaway.
It has been nearly 50 years since Congress passed the landmark 1964 Wilderness Act. Now, a series of threatening bills is putting this act — and our beloved wildlands — at risk.
This “great outdoors giveaway” threatens more than a half billion acres of wildlands. It also threatens the clean air, clean water and local economies they support.
Our wildlands are a great source of economic activity, especially in rural communities. Outdoor recreation, natural resource conservation and historic preservation activities contribute more than $1 trillion annually to our economy. These activities support 9.4 million jobs and generate more than $100 billion in federal, state and local taxes. The Wilderness Under Siege bills would hurt communities that need this economic support the most.
A new bipartisan survey sponsored by Colorado College found that people of all backgrounds want to keep wildlands out of harm’s way. Regardless of their political views, survey respondents did not want to see wildlands put in the hands of developers.
Interactive map
Our interactive map gives a state-by-state breakdown of the harmful legislation in Congress that threatens our wild places.
If you can’t view the map, you can use our text-based version.
Take action
You can tell Congress to stop legislation that threatens wilderness and to say “no” to giving away your wild lands. Sign the petition.
Full Report
You can learn more about the harmful bills featured in our Wilderness Under Siege report.
Notes from the Hill
Stay current on legislation moving in Congress, issues affecting wilderness and wilderness designation campaigns with our Notes from the Hill.
Policy and Science Library
Find fact sheets, reports and other resources related to wilderness policy and conservation.
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.
Monday, May 20, 2013The Forest Service proposed a ban last year on horizontal drilling, also known as fracking. Their decision will determine how this forest is managed for at least the next decade.
Monday, May 20, 2013National Trails Day on Saturday June 1st provides numerous opportunities to hike, run, and horseback ride on a trail near you.
Thursday, May 16, 2013Visit us in the Eco-Village at this summer’s Dave Matthews Band concerts.
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, 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.
Smart Steps to Establish a Responsible Program for Renewable Energy on Public Lands
Since its first day in office, the Obama Administration has made rapid and responsible expansion of renewable energy a top priority. The public lands have played a major role in achieving early goals, but only because of focused effort to correct decades of inattention and inactivity toward developing renewable energy as a major component of the nation’s energy mix.
Expanding energy development to meet the growing needs of America must be balanced with protecting vital wild places.
The Wilderness Society has launched a new quarterly report "By The Numbers" to track how many acres of American land have been protected by Congress and the Executive branch, and how many acres have been leased out to energy development.
April 24, 2013
Dear Senator:
Monday, May 20, 2013Gov. Sean Parnell’s plan to ask the Alaska Legislature for $50 million to look for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is incompatible with the reasons the refuge was established, and would cause significant harm to a vital and irreplaceable American landscape.
Friday, May 17, 2013A draft Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness near Grand Junction, CO would improve land management efforts and provide a sustainable path for the area over the next 20 years.
Thursday, May 16, 2013The Wilderness Society today applauded the U.S. Senate for passing the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
The Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area Establishment Act (S. 241) – sponsored by Tom Udall (D-NM) and co-sponsored by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) – would protect as wilderness roughly 13,500 acres of the Cerro del Yuta and 8,000 acres of the Rio San Antonio areas.