International wilderness in the Twenty-First Century: A global review (Chapter 3)

Abstract

Today it is recognized that wilderness has many dimensions, at once touching upon history, ecology, culture, mystery, risk, management, and personal experiences. The evolution of the wilderness concept, and how it is perceived, is influenced by diverse cultural perspectives, a continually expanding understanding of how humans are supported by nature, and existential threats to humanity, both socioeconomic (e.g., income inequality, access to nature and natural resources) and environmental (e.g., climate change, biodiversity loss). The primary purpose of this chapter is to review and summarize global contributions to the protection of wilderness land-and seascapes ("wild nature") thus illustrating how the many dimensions of wilderness are imagined and applied across institutions and cultures.

Citation

Martin, Vance G.; Watson, Alan; Armatas, Christopher A.; Lewis, Amy. 2025. International wilderness in the Twenty-First Century: A global review (Chapter 3). In: Dawson, Chad P.; Hendee, John C., eds. Wilderness Management: Stewardship and Protection of Resources and Values, 5th ed. Waveland Press, Inc. p. 37-74.