Essay On Wilderness Protection

Sixty days of carrying 80-pound backpacks, sleeping under a tarp for shelter in the Utah winter – welcome to “wilderness therapy.”

We should learn to respect wilderness by how it is. In the article, “The Trouble with Wilderness; or, Getting Back to the Wrong Nature” by William Cronon, it says that we should learn to honor and respect the wild. This concept relates with the Yellowstone National Park. It talked about how people had different views and values towards Yellowstone. Cronon mentions that we should think about nature in a sustainable way also. That means to consider it in non-use. So bears should not be fed by humans, especially since they cannot tell the difference between natural and unnatural food sources. Also, fires should not be caused intentionally because human lives and homes are at stake. Causing intentional fires can also significantly change the landscape.

Today, millions of acres of land in our nation have been fortunate enough to not be disrupted by the touch of man. Around the nation it is also always on debate about using the natural resources of those untouched lands to benefit the economy and man in some way. However, there are many who oppose doing this and there are also those who believe we should harness those resources, but in a way that is not damaging. These two beliefs are called conservation and preservation and are very different in the way people look at the land. Preservation refers to leaving the land and all the natural wildlife and plant life alone and not disturbing the natural beauty and natural cycle of life in the environment.

The wilderness and forests need to be saved for the future generations, and a sort of “wilderness bank” needs to be formed in order to keep the reality of the wilderness alive and keep mankind grounded to the earth.

The film’s account of “wilderness” thinking differs from the narrative that Cronon offers in his article, “The Trouble with Wilderness”. Beliefs and ideas about “wilderness” that influenced this process are spiritual references. The film honors John Muir in an admirable sense. The fact that John Muir knew the bible by heart and worshipped all of God´s creations explains his love for nature and how can we seriously not believe in a higher power with such beautiful scenery nature provides for us. If nature didn’t cause us such an emotional impact then it could possibly be referred to as ¨wilderness¨ but it’s far more intense than that. William Cronon presents a fairly convincing argument about the effect of civilization in the wilderness.

The Wilderness Act restricts the use of mechanical transport. Ten to twelve percent of all United States lands are

One of America’s greatest conservation achievements is the Wilderness Act of 1964. Fifty-two years later, this act has a legacy to withhold. A legacy that meant something in 1964 and remains the same today: to protect unspoiled land. Even though, through this act millions of acres have been conserved, the key word is continue. That is why America should pass laws to preserve the wilderness before developers spoil them.

According to William Cronon’s “The Trouble with Wilderness”, the main concerns with the wilderness term being humanly constructed and lack of concern with the local environments. Cronon emphasize much of the historical and philological meanings of wilderness as a human construct via spiritual and religious perspectives. He desired for people stop putting so much emphasis on the above and beyond that is out of our reach and focus on the present. He pushed this into the idea of one should start putting emphasis and care into one’s own environment rather than just focusing on environments beyond the local one. He believes change should start locally.

The modern Environment Movement began with the passing of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The act established a National Wilderness System and created 9 millions acres. The main influence and writer of the act Howard Zahniser, who felt that we needed wilderness as it takes us away from technology that gives us perspective of mastering the environment rather than being a part of it (Nash, 2001). With the passing of the act Americans questioned both preservation and conservation. A new culture emerged in America that rejected societal norms and praised independence and freedom. This culture developed in the youth of America and sparked change in preservation growth and the overall outlook of wilderness.

“Conservation laws” (document 8) positively impacted the environment, especially the National Conservation Commision (1909) which was put in place to conserve US natural resources. The National Reclamation Act raised money from the sale of public lands which funded irrigation programs in western states. This Act was installed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 “to increase” the land’s “usefulness” (document 6), the irrigation systems allowed crops, animals, and people to prosper. In addition, perhaps the most important act, the National Park Service Act which was enacted in 1916 by Woodrow Wilson after he expressed that “we have not stopped to conserve the exceeding bounty of nature (document 2). The Act was put in place to conserve “scenery”, “natural and historic landmarks”, “wildlife therein” and to “provide enjoyment for future generations”(The National Park Service Act). Environmental issues in the Gilded Age such as resources depletion, ecosystem destruction, air pollution, and public land exploitation all lead to the environmental reforms of the Progressive

Roosevelt saw the wilderness as a place that grows character, valor and vigor — a place worthy of preservation for future generations. Future generations like me. And because of this, most of my childhood was spent at national parks.

The Endangered American Wilderness Act, today, protects America’s wilderness areas. Mr. Carter was concerned about the population growth spilling over into the nation’s wilderness population. At the time, strip mining and logging had resulted in already endangered wilderness areas. The act was introduced, in large part, for the generations to come, so that they may enjoy America’s wilderness.

This country cannot work without mutual understanding and respect between the american people and the government. Listening to various ideals is part of the communication process and those who don’t support the protection of wilderness are choosing to stick with not supporting any bills that deal with the protection of the land. In the essay “Finding Common Ground on Protecting Montana Wilderness,” Rick Bass, an experienced author, advocate and resident of the Yaak Valley, states his views on the matter of protecting the wild lands from the timber industry and other members of the opposition while at the same time respecting their views.

Both John Muir and Gifford Pinchot aimed to protect North American wilderness due to unregulated land development but form different perspectives. John Muir is one of the key figure to promote the idea of preservation. (Bulkan J., 2016) In his understanding wilderness offers people an opportunity to revisit and experience nature away from busy city lives. (Difference Between Conservation and Preservation., 2011)

Theodore Roosevelt believed that wildlife conservation and preserving our lands was of the upmost importance. The article on sageamericanhistory.net states that Theodore Roosevelt stated, “As a nation we not only enjoy a wonderful measure of present prosperity but if this prosperity is used aright it is an earnest of future success such as no other nation will have. The reward of foresight for this nation is great and easily foretold. But there must be the look ahead, there must be a realization of the fact that to waste, to destroy, our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining until the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed. For the last few years, through several agencies, the government has been endeavoring to get our people to look ahead and to substitute a planned and orderly development of our resources in place of a