Frequently Asked Questions about Wilderness

What is Wilderness and how is it established?

In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act (Full text of Wilderness Act) to protect the very finest of America's national forests and public lands from development and industrial and motorized abuse. It takes an act of Congress to designate an area as Wilderness - a long and difficult process. It is the highest standard of land protection for our nation's national forests and public lands. (It does not apply to private or state land.)

Wilderness protects opportunities for traditional land uses, such as hunting, fishing and camping, but disallows bulldozing new roads, motorized use and industrial exploitation. In a Wilderness Area, managers may address problems such as forest fires and insect outbreaks as needed.

Most importantly, Wilderness designated in Idaho will remain as it is today for future generations to enjoy.

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What are the threats to Idaho's potential new Wilderness areas?

Motorized Recreation

Fragile landscapes are quickly and permanently scarred by the minority of off-road enthusiasts who want to ride off the trails, disturbing wildlife, trampling native plants and spreading noxious weeds. The noise of the machines shatters the recreation experience of people seeking to "get away from it all" and enjoy the peace and quiet of Nature.

Roads and Logging

Idaho's famous roadless areas are where the roads end and the trails begin. Seemingly permanent protection has been removed by different administrations, leaving roadless areas in a constant state of limbo. As Idaho's history shows, once roadless areas are logged and roaded, they will never be afforded Wilderness protection. The wild qualities that these areas offer - the best hunting and fishing - are gone forever. Under Wilderness protection, we will have some certainty that these wild areas will have the protection they deserve.

Mining

New mining claims will also not be allowed under wilderness protection. Mining is one of the most destructive practices on a landscape. Trees may grow back, but mountains do not. In addition to the visual impacts of open pits, mining can easily permanently pollute water supplies with artificial and naturally occurring toxins such as cyanide, arsenic, mercury, and acid mine drainage. Wilderness designation is the best way to protect the source of clean water from mining waste.

Change

While there are threats that exist today, there will be other threats that will present themselves in the future. Some of these can be predicted, others cannot be. Designating the area as Wilderness is the best way to ensure that it will remain as it is today.

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What effect will the new Congress have on Idaho Wilderness?

With Democrats in charge of Congress, Wilderness designation will be regarded favorably and will be likely to pass. Bills that propose Wilderness in Idaho, like Rep. Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act (CIEDRA) will improve in the view of conservationists. But Congress will continue to defer to members of the home state delegation when it comes to Wilderness designation, as they have done in the past. In the mid-term election that changed the leadership of Congress, Idaho remained the most Republic state in the nation. Wilderness bills face the necessity of pleasing both parties, and a truly bi-partisan effort to pass them.