Nearly nine in ten Americans believe that protecting public land as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System is important, according to a new Zogby International poll of 1039 likely voters across the country. These voters view as “very important” (57 percent) or “somewhat important” (30 percent) the protection of publicly owned land as wilderness, leaving it just as it is. The support cuts across political parties, regions, age groups, and ethnic and religious backgrounds. Twelve percent said it was not important to protect the nation’s wilderness.
Wilderness News Releases
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Senate Subcommittee Hears Testimony on Three Wilderness Bills
July 16th, 2008
The U.S. Senate is keeping wilderness legislation near the top of its agenda. Today, the Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee heard testimony on bills to permanently protect wild lands in California, Colorado and New Mexico.
Two Wilderness Bills for Oregon Take Step Forward
July 10th, 2008Measures will protect more of state’s wild treasures
Nearly 40,000 acres of some of Oregon's most dramatic and picturesque landscapes-lava flows, castle-like rock formations, ancient junipers and blooming wildflower meadows-are a step closer to permanent protection today, as legislation to designate the Oregon Badlands and Spring Basin areas was heard by the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests.
Senate to Consider Major Public Lands Bill
June 27th, 2008Measure Would Protect Nearly a Million Acres as Wilderness
Senator Jeff Bingaman introduced a major lands bill, S. 3213, yesterday, before Congress began its July 4th recess. The Chairman’s package contains more than 90 titles, including more than a half dozen wilderness measures to protect over 900,000 acres of wild land in Oregon, Idaho, Colorado, Virginia and West Virginia.
Three Wilderness Bills Cleared by US House of Representatives
June 9th, 2008
Conservationists cheered House passage today of another three wilderness bills, and urged the Senate to take the measures up quickly. The bills, which passed by voice vote, will together protect for all Americans more than 320,000 acres of wild public land in California and New Mexico. From California’s iconic Joshua Trees and Giant Sequoias to New Mexico’s 1,000-foot-deep Cañon Largo, more of our natural treasures will stay as they are for future generations, thanks to the action of Congress today.
Sen. Wyden introduces wilderness legislation for Badlands and Spring Basin
June 5th, 2008Statement of David Dreher on introduction of Oregon wilderness bills
We applaud Senator Wyden and the Oregon Natural Desert Association today for putting together such a wildly popular Badlands wilderness bill. The outpouring of bipartisan business community backing for the proposal is impressive. Add in ranchers, mountain bikers and others, and this bill enjoys an incredibly broad base of support. A 2005 poll of Deschutes County, Oregon voters found that 69 percent supported wilderness protection for the Badlands. The area's fantastic rock formations, just 15 miles east of Bend, is a 30,000-acre area filled with fascinating lava flows and ancient junipers.
California Wilderness Bill Introduced in House and Senate
May 23rd, 2008Statement of Jim Mathews on Introduction of Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act
As Americans gather this Memorial Day weekend to remember those who have served, Republicans and Democrats in Congress have again come together to serve our country in a different way-by working to protect as wilderness more of our country's last, best wild places.
Two Bills for CO Wilderness Introduced in Congress
May 23rd, 2008Measures will protect state’s special wild lands
Two important wilderness measures were introduced by Colorado lawmakers yesterday to protect more of the Centennial State's wild public land. The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Act, introduced by Senator Ken Salazar and Representative John Salazar, will create the approximately 200,000-acre Dominguez-Escalante Canyons National Conservation Area, which includes the more than 66,000-acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness area. Senator Salazar also introduced legislation to protect nearly 20,000 acres in Colorado's Browns Canyon-one of the last pristine canyons in the state.
Three wilderness bills approved in House Natural Resources Committee
May 14th, 2008Statement of Jim Mathews, on House Committee Markup
The Campaign for America’s Wilderness joins conservationists from around the country in expressing thanks to the Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources, who today approved three major bills that will forever protect some of our best wild lands for future generations. We are especially appreciative of the dedicated, hard-working local conservationists in California and New Mexico who helped develop and support these important wilderness initiatives.
President Signs Bill Designating First Wilderness in 110th Congress
May 8th, 2008Wild Sky Wilderness in Washington first in state in more than 20 years
President Bush today signed the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which includes the Wild Sky Wilderness measure (H.R. 886/S.520) to permanently protect 106,000 acres of scenic national forest lands in the Wild Skykomish River region in Washington State. "We've waited a long time for this day, and oh what a great day it is," said Jon Owen, Deputy Campaigns Director for the Campaign for America's Wilderness--who as former Campaign Director for the Washington Wilderness Coalition helped launch the effort to protect this special wild place eight years ago.
