Open AccessProtecting the Endangered Blank Spots on Maps: The Wilderness Names Policy of the United States Board on Geographic Names
Author(s) -
Robert Julyan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
names
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.2
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1756-2279
pISSN - 0027-7738
DOI - 10.1179/nam.2000.48.3-4.217
Subject(s) - wilderness , blank , endangered species , wilderness area , geography , toponymy , political science , grey literature , environmental resource management , genealogy , history , law , sociology , archaeology , ecology , engineering , demography , economics , medline , biology , mechanical engineering , population
The policy of the United States Board on Geographic Names of discouraging new name proposals for formally designated wilderness areas embodies a radical concept: creating name-restricted zones to protect a specific, culturally defined characteristic of an area. This article traces the evolution and rationale of this policy and, using case studies, examines some of the implications and practicalities of its implementation.