Managing the Balances of Nature: The Legal Framework of Wilderness Management

Wilderness has challenged the American spirit and defined the American character since the early days of the republic. Initially, we sought to tame the wilderness, to harness the rivers, and to exploit our abundant natural resources. During the last century, we have recognized that wilderness is something worth preserving. We now face the challenge of preserving wilderness, both by setting aside sufficient acreage as wilderness and by managing those areas chosen for protection so that they retain their wilderness character. Most of America's wildlands were destroyed during the past century. 2 A 1949 report prepared for the Library of Congress concluded that "original wilderness ... will have disappeared entirely . . .[before long]. If then, there is reason for preserving substantial portions of the remaining wilderness, it must be decided upon before it is too late.' " 3 By the time naturalist and author Wallace Stegner testified before the Outdoor Recreational Resources Review Commission in 1962, a growing number of people believed that compelling reasons existed to protect wil-