Preparing to Manage Wilderness in the 21st Century

Abstract

The notion of preparing to manage wilderness in the 21st Century is an intriguing one to consider. It certainly would be presumptuous to state with any confidence what the future holds in store for the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) over the course of the next 100 years--indeed whether it will survive in a manageable or even recognizable state. Such being the case, it is surely difficult to prepare for. However, by the beginning of the next century we can be certain of this: Wilderness may be our Nation’s foremost means of preserving biodiversity; its unparalleled scientific laboratory for studying the environment; its most unique setting for developing the human potential; and its efficient producer of natural resources and cultural amenities.

Citation

Reed, Patrick C. 1990. Preparing to Manage Wilderness in the 21st Century. Gen. Tech. Rep. SE-66. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 173 p.