Creation of the Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society, founded in 1935 by a group of environmental visionaries including Robert Marshall and Aldo Leopold, emerged in response to growing concerns about land preservation and the humane treatment of natural environments. The organization aims to protect public lands, wetlands, and fragile ecosystems, promoting a sustainable relationship between humans and nature. A pivotal moment in its history occurred in 1964 with the establishment of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which set aside over nine million acres of federal land, safeguarding it from development and exploitation.
The Wilderness Society has played a significant role in the enactment of key environmental legislation, including the Wilderness Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the National Trails System Act, all of which contributed to the preservation of wildlife habitats in the United States. Its ongoing initiatives tackle contemporary ecological challenges, such as climate change and the protection of roadless areas. Through partnerships with other environmental organizations, the Wilderness Society continues to advocate for sustainable forest management and the conservation of natural landscapes. This legacy of activism highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in promoting environmental stewardship and protecting biodiversity for future generations.
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Creation of the Wilderness Society
Identification Environmental advocacy organization
Date Established on January 21, 1935
Since its inception in 1935, the Wilderness Society has been a pioneer in the environmental movement. The organization has secured more than 100 million acres of wilderness, which spans from the rugged mountains of Alaska to the tenuous arid regions in California.
In 1935, a handful of prominent men met in Washington, D.C., to form the Wilderness Society. They included Robert Marshall, Aldo Leopold, Benton MacKaye,Robert Sterling Yard, and Harvey Broome, among others. All of the men were mavericks in their own right, considering their innovative views on preservation and on the humane treatment of the land and its vanishing inhabitants.
Since that time, the Wilderness Society has expanded and continues to grow. In 1964, the organization established the National Wilderness Preservation System. It protects public wetlands and fragile ecosystems.
Along with the help of other environmental partners, the group played a role in three key acts during the 1960’s, including the Wilderness Act of 1964, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1968, and the National Trails System Act in 1968. Independently and together, all three movements have helped preserve robust wildlife for generations to come.
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law. In a nutshell, it protected more than nine million acres of federal lands from humans. Later developments included the National Forest Management Act of 1976, the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980, the Tongass Timber Reform Act in 1990, the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.
Such acts and alliances between the Wilderness Society and other organizations have added millions of acres of land to various local and federal parks. In return, sustainable forests have been able to maintain a presence and thrive throughout the United States.
Impact
Since 1935, the Wilderness Society has protected wildlife in various shapes and forms. They continue to team up with like-minded groups to tackle pressing ecological issues, such as global warming, roadless forests, and stewardship.
Bibliography
Maher, Neil M. Nature’s New Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps and the Roots of the American Environmental Movement. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
Schneider, Russ. The Wilderness Directory. New York: Falcon, 1998.
Society of America for the Wilderness Society. Conserving Biological Diversity in Our National Forests. New York: Wilderness Society, 1986.
Zaslowsky, Dyan. These American Lands: Parks, Wilderness, and the Public Lands. New York: Island Press, 1994.