#WildlifeWednesday – Celebrating 55 years of the Wilderness Act!

On an early September day 55 years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act. This historic bill established the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) and set aside an initial 9.1 million acres of wildlands for the use and benefit of the American people. Over the past 50 years, and as a result of America’s support for wilderness, Congress has added over 111 million acres to this unique land preservation system.

The 1964 Wilderness Act defines “Wilderness” as areas where the earth and its communities of life are left unchanged by people, where the primary forces of nature are in control, and where people themselves are visitors who do not remain. In other words – all of my favorite places to photograph wildlife in its natural environment in an effort to share it with you!

Protections for Earth’s wilderness are changing quickly, now moreso than ever with issues such as the pebble mine or the fires in South America taking center stage. For more information and to find ways to help preserve our natural places, visit www.wilderness.org – and of course stay tuned to the blog!