The Wilderness Act of 1964 (Pub. L. 88–577) is a law about managing federal lands. It was created to protect wilderness areas and to provide a way to officially set aside land as wilderness. Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society wrote the law. After working on it for eight years and writing over sixty drafts, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law on September 3, 1964. This law gave the United States a legal definition of wilderness and protected 9.1 million acres (37,000 km²) of federal land.

The Wilderness Act is famous for its clear and beautifully written definition of wilderness:

When Congress passed and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act on September 3, 1964, it created the National Wilderness Preservation System. The first areas protected by the Act were 9.1 million acres (37,000 km²) of national forest wilderness in the United States, which had already been protected by administrative orders. Today, the National Wilderness Preservation System includes 757 wilderness areas covering 109.5 million acres of federally owned land in 44 states and Puerto Rico (5% of the land in the United States).

Background

During the 1950s and 1960s, people in the United States became increasingly worried about the fast-growing population after World War II, a time known as the baby boom. At the same time, the country’s transportation systems expanded, making travel easier but also causing more harm to the environment. A major concern was that pollution could damage air and water quality. This issue led to the first version of the Clean Air Act being passed in 1963.

Even after laws were created to control pollution, the problem of protecting wild areas remained. A key part of America’s identity was its large, untouched wilderness, but by the 1960s, this land had decreased to about 2.5% of the total land in the country. Earlier efforts to protect nature had resulted in designations such as the National Parks System, National Forests, and primitive areas. However, these protections were not enough to fully preserve the land for future generations. People criticized these efforts when industries tried to use protected lands for mining and energy projects. One example was the debate over building the Echo Park Dam at Dinosaur National Monument. This situation pushed conservationists to ask Congress for stronger protections for wilderness areas. Howard Zahniser helped write the first draft of the Wilderness Act to address these concerns.

Legislative history

The Wilderness Act of 1964 was discussed and revised many times before it was finally passed by the 88th Congress.

In 1948, members of Congress asked the Library of Congress to prepare a report about creating a federal wilderness system. The report was finished one year later and provided information about the current state of federal land. In 1956, seven years after the report, the first meetings were held in the House and Senate to discuss protecting wildlife refuge areas. In January 1957, six bills introducing the first drafts of the Wilderness Act were presented in the House over four days. One month later, the Senate also introduced a draft of the bill.

President John F. Kennedy supported the Wilderness Act. His administration encouraged lawmakers to pass the bill. During the 87th Congress, the Senate passed a version of the Wilderness Act, but it was not voted on in the House, and its future was uncertain at the time.

At the start of the 88th Congress, the Senate debated the Wilderness Bill and passed it in April 1963. After President Kennedy was assassinated, President Lyndon B. Johnson continued efforts to pass the bill. On June 23, 1963, President Johnson listed the Wilderness Act as one of 30 important pieces of legislation that needed to be passed. After a conference committee resolved differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, President Johnson signed the Act into law on September 3, 1964.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 was an important law in American environmental history. It began the federal protection of wilderness areas across the United States. It was passed with support from both the Senate (73–12) and the House of Representatives (373–1), showing agreement between political parties on protecting natural landscapes for future generations. The Act created the National Wilderness Preservation System, defining wilderness as areas where the earth and its community of life are "untrammeled by man," according to Wilderness Society president Howard Zahniser. It also limited most development and motorized vehicles in these areas. The success of the Act was due in part to support from groups such as environmental organizations, labor groups, and civic organizations, showing strong public interest in preserving America’s wilderness.

Legal framework

The Wilderness Act of 1964 includes several rules that explain how to protect wilderness areas.

Section 2 of the Act explains what makes an area of land qualify as wilderness.

Wilderness areas are selected from federal lands that meet these conditions:
• Little human impact
• Opportunities for free recreation
• At least 5,000 acres
• Value for education, science, scenery, or history
• No commercial businesses, motor vehicles, or other mechanical equipment (such as cars, motorcycles, or bicycles).

Section 3 of the Act describes how the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) is created and managed.

When Congress adds a wilderness area to the NWPS, it sets a clear boundary in law. Once an area is part of the system, its protection and boundaries can only be changed by Congress. The main ideas of the NWPS are:
• Wilderness areas are parts of public lands.
• Congress designates wilderness areas on national forests, parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands.
• In wilderness areas, human influence is limited to allow ecosystems to change naturally over time, as much as possible, without human control. The Act states that these areas are "untrammeled by man," meaning nature operates freely.
• Wilderness areas have multiple uses, but only activities that protect the area’s "wilderness character" are allowed. For example, these areas help protect clean water for cities and farms and support wildlife, including endangered species. However, activities like logging or oil drilling are not allowed.
• Wilderness areas are used for outdoor recreation, but motor vehicles and machines are not allowed unless specifically permitted. Scientific research is allowed if it does not harm the environment.
• Some activities, like mining or grazing, that existed before an area became wilderness may continue if they do not greatly affect the area.

Section 4 lists actions that are not allowed in wilderness areas and explains exceptions.

Prohibited activities include:
• Using motor vehicles, equipment, motorboats, or other machines
• Building permanent or temporary roads
• Operating commercial businesses
• Landing aircraft

Sections 5, 6, and 7 explain how Congress manages the purchase of new land, accepts gifts, and adds new wilderness areas to the system.

Uncertainties

Some issues related to the Wilderness Act remained unclear, which led to later actions and disagreements.

When the Wilderness Act was passed in 1964, it did not include lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) because lawmakers were unsure about the future of those areas. This uncertainty was resolved in 1976 with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which stated that BLM lands would stay federally owned. Between March 1978 and November 1980, these lands were reviewed to see if they could be classified as wilderness.

Some people believe the rules for defining wilderness are unclear. For example, one rule says wilderness areas must be roadless, but the act does not explain what "roadless" means. Some groups and officials have used this definition: "roadless" means the absence of roads that have been built and maintained using machines. For more details, refer to Revised Statute 2477.

The Wilderness Act has been interpreted by agencies to ban bicycles from wilderness areas because the law prohibits "other mechanical forms of transport." Mountain bikes were not around when the law was written, so they were not mentioned in the original text. This rule has caused some mountain bikers to oppose the creation of new wilderness areas.

The Wilderness Act and increased federal control over environmental protection led to movements like the Sagebrush Rebellion and the Wise Use movement, especially in the American West. These groups opposed what they saw as too much federal control and supported state and individual rights over public land management. The conflict over wilderness protection and land use showed growing differences in American environmental politics and influenced the development of the New Right and the Republican Party’s views on environmental laws. The Wilderness Act not only marked an important moment in environmental history but also started long-term debates about government’s role in managing natural resources and balancing conservation with development.

The 1964 Wilderness Act, which protected untouched American landscapes, faced strong opposition from the Sagebrush Rebellion in the late 1970s. Many people in the West, such as ranchers, miners, and loggers, resisted federal environmental rules that limited their access to public lands. The FLPMA of 1976, which shifted BLM’s focus from resource use to conservation, was a major point of conflict because it limited these groups’ ability to earn a living. Many Westerners felt the federal government was overstepping its role and called it "federal colonialism."

James G. Watt, chosen by President Ronald Reagan as Secretary of the Interior, played a key role in this situation. During his time in office, he worked to expand mineral rights to include coal and oil, which benefited people affected by the Wilderness Act and other environmental laws. Watt aimed to reduce federal control and give local governments more power over land management. These actions were seen as a direct response to the Sagebrush Rebellion’s demands. Because of changes in regulations that reduced federal control over Western lands, the Sagebrush Rebellion briefly felt successful due to its connection with the Reagan administration.

Creation

The early research and efforts to support the work of Margaret and Olaus Murie, Celia Hunter, and the Alaska Conservation Society were very important in helping pass the Wilderness Act and creating the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Margaret Murie gave a strong speech to Congress in support of the Wilderness Act. She worked with Howard Zahniser, an employee of the Wilderness Society who wrote the bill, to help get it passed. She also attended the ceremony where the act was signed.

Statistics

As of 2014, the National Wilderness Preservation System covered more than 109 million acres (441,000 km²). These lands were managed by four federal agencies.

Subsequent legislation

The Wilderness Act has helped add more land to wilderness areas in the United States. Each year, Congress reviews new ideas for expanding wilderness, some from federal agencies and many from groups that work to protect nature and outdoor activities. Laws that added more areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System include:

• Eastern Wilderness Areas Act of 1975
• Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act of 1978
• Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978
• Great Bear Wilderness Act of 1978
• Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980
• Central Idaho Wilderness Act of 1980
• National Forest Wilderness Act of 1980
• New Mexico Wilderness Act of 1980
• Vermont Wilderness Act of 1984
• New Hampshire Wilderness Act of 1984
• California Wilderness Act of 1984
• Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984
• Arizona Wilderness Act of 1984
• North Carolina Wilderness Act of 1984
• Nevada Wilderness Protection Act of 1989
• Illinois Wilderness Act of 1990
• Los Padres Condor Range and River Protection Act of 1992
• Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993
• California Desert Protection Act of 1994
• Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2006
• New England Wilderness Act of 2006
• Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Conservation and Recreation Act of 2014
• John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019

Congress is considering new wilderness areas in Utah, Colorado, Washington, California, Virginia, Idaho, West Virginia, Montana, and New Hampshire. Groups working with local leaders are proposing new wilderness areas in Vermont, southern Arizona, national grasslands in South Dakota, and Rocky Mountain peaks in Montana, Colorado, and Wyoming. The U.S. Forest Service suggests new areas for wilderness, and citizen groups can then propose these for expansion.

50th anniversary of Wilderness Act

In 2014, the United States celebrated "50 Years of Wilderness" and the creation of Wilderness50, a group formed by federal agencies, non-profit groups, schools, and other organizations that use wilderness areas. This group was created to record and honor the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, which is considered an important part of America's natural heritage.

To mark the 50th year of the Wilderness Act, many projects and events took place. These included displays at museums, airports, and visitor centers; a national website and social media campaign; a photography exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution; a week-long celebration of wilderness in Washington, D.C., in September; and a national conference about wilderness.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 is a key law that helps protect and manage wilderness areas in the United States. This law allows Congress to set aside certain federal lands as wilderness areas. It also requires federal agencies to manage these areas in a way that preserves their natural state. By 2014, the law had helped protect over 109 million acres of public land. A special meeting called "The Wilderness Act at 50," held by Lewis & Clark Law School, brought together experts to talk about how the law has changed and its effects over time.

At the meeting, discussions focused on how legal cases have influenced how wilderness areas are managed, including the choices made by people who bring lawsuits. The meeting also noted the role of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in helping to create more wilderness areas and limiting how federal agencies manage them. The Wilderness Act continues to be a major law for protecting wilderness areas, even as it is updated to better protect these lands.

Over time, the Wilderness System has grown larger. By 2014, it covered more than 109 million acres in 758 areas across 44 states. This growth has happened because many wilderness designations receive support from both political parties, showing that protecting wilderness is a shared value.