Essay On Wilderness Protection

In the articles “Desegregating Wilderness” and “At Risk” by Jourdan Imani Keith, the author connects the issues between race and nature. Keith connects the study of nature to the issues of race by labeling the urban youth “at risk” due to the lack of reliable sources, and also labels the chinook salmon population being “at risk” of extinction. Keith also connects the study of nature to the issues of race by portraying the aspects of “desegregating” in wilderness and race. Segregation is to set something or someone apart. In the most part we understand segregation as racial segregation but, there can also be segregation of nature.

An article called Both Sides in Wildlife Refuge Protest Face off in Oregon was written by Kirk Johnson on February 1, 2016. In front of the steps of Harney County courthouse, two groups, one for and one against, gather to protest the armed occupation of a federal wildlife refuge. The two groups were arguing at one another, but was not being violent expect for the occasional pushing. The protesters were protesting the arrest of Ammon Budy and the death of LaVoy Finicum. With that being said, eleven more people was arrest with the connection of the takeover and four people are stilling refusing to leave the refuge. Both sides came together to argue what they think is right and what should be done.

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.

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

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.

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.

He mentions that the Montana Yaak Valley has not been included in the “already in effect” Wilderness Act of 1964 and so far “not a single acre” (5) has been designated. The Yaak is public land and falls under the government’s passed Act, but it is thought by a good majority of the opposition as “private land.” He also explains that because his “home valley of the Yaak grows big timber and for this reason primarily was excluded from earlier Montana wilderness protection bills in the 1960’s, 70’s, and 80’s” (3). He states why the timber industry is against bills for the protection of wild lands, and that is because it needs the woods to produce labor opportunities. Bass also mentions a strategy formed, which pertained to assigning specific areas within the protected land to be used for recreational purposes, in order to please the opposition. Lastly, he insists that the Yaak, as one of the United States’ lungs, is worth protecting because “it nurtures the greatest biodiversity in the state” (2). The reality is that the Yaak Valley is a relative large area with minimum human involvement, which is perfect to maintain the existence of many fauna and

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.

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)

This paper will begin with an exposition of the article, “Radical Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique” written by Ramachendra Guha, a sociologist and historian involved in ecological conflict in the East and the West. In this article, he refers to American environmentalism as “deep ecology”, a modern theory founded by Arne Naess. Guha’s argues that based on a comparison of the concepts of deep ecology and other cultural environmentalisms, deep ecology is strictly rooted in American culture and thus, leads to negative social consequences when it is applied to the Third World. This argument will be achieved by first defining deep ecology and its principles.

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

“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

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.

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

The American Wilderness Coalition has created a system that preserves 110 million acres of land in the United States. It was made possible through The Wilderness Act that was passed in 1964. This was written by Howard Zahniser who was one of the groups own members. The Wilderness Society, along with many other conservation groups have been lobbying, which has created the passing of a handful of bills.