Wilderness for a diverse America: Lands stewarded to respect and reflect diverse cultures, generations, abilities, and perspectives

Abstract

Federal land managers are asked to meet diverse goals ranging from sustainable resource management to social equity. But across the vast expanse of the National Wilderness Preservation System, some of these goals may be perceived and experienced differently. To encourage conversations around how to meet these goals, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute (ALWRI) Research Social Scientist, Dr. Lauren Redmore, recently teamed up with Dr. Aby Sène-Harper, an assistant professor of Parks and Conservation Area Management at Clemson University, as guest editors for a special issue of the International Journal of Wilderness, now available open access. The issue, themed “Wilderness for a Diverse America”, features contributed articles from emerging and established professionals, ranging from US federal agency and nonprofit representatives to academic researchers, who contemplate what wilderness means for a country in progress. This special issue examines how connections to, interpretations of, and ways of relating with wilderness are changing, and offered insights for how wilderness might be stewarded to respect and reflect diverse cultures, generations, abilities, and perspectives.

Citation

Helmy, Olga; Redmore, Lauren. 2024. Wilderness for a diverse America: Lands stewarded to respect and reflect diverse cultures, generations, abilities, and perspectives. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), October 2024. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.