Scaling-up the minimum requirements analysis for big wilderness issues

Abstract

The concept of applying a "minimum requirements" analysis to decisions about administrative actions in wilderness in the United States has been around for a long time. It comes from Section 4(c) of the Wilderness Act of 1964, which states that "except as necessary to meet minimum requirements for the administration of the area for the purposes of this Act there shall be no temporary road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installation within any such area." The concept interjects the notions of flexibility and compromise, suggesting that wilderness purposes might on occasion be best served by allowing generally prohibited uses. However, it is clear that such allowances should be the minimum necessary to achieve the purposes of the Wilderness Act.

Citation

Cole, David N. 2007. Scaling-up the minimum requirements analysis for big wilderness issues. International Journal of Wilderness 13(1): 8-12.