In September, we celebrated Wilderness month in the United States and the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. We took a moment to reflect on the profound impact of these protected lands and their importance to the future of forestry. The Wilderness Act, passed in 1964, created a way for Americans to protect the nation’s most pristine landscapes, preserving over 111 million acres of designated wilderness managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other federal agencies. These wild places are not only sanctuaries for biodiversity but also a reminder of our duty to steward the planet for generations to come.
Wilderness and the Women’s Forest Congress: Our Shared Values
The Women’s Forest Congress (WFC) believes that wilderness is not just a matter of environmental stewardship, but also a call for leadership, diversity, and innovation in forestry. The 2022 WFC resolutions underscore the need to address our greatest forest challenges, which include the conservation of wilderness areas as part of a broader commitment to sustainable management. Wilderness, with its inherent value and enduring legacy, also serves as a platform for leadership by women and underrepresented groups in forestry. The WFC recognizes the harms and challenges caused by the passage of the Wilderness Act, particularly to landowners and Indigenous peoples who were separated from cultural homelands. By engaging diverse voices, we aspire for future wilderness policy and management to reflect the full spectrum of forest users and stewards.
What Wilderness Means to Us
To celebrate Wilderness Month and the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, we asked members of the Women’s Forest Congress Steering Committee to share their thoughts on what wilderness means to them personally and professionally:
- “Accessing wilderness areas has allowed me to connect with myself and nature on a deeper level. Wilderness provides an important opportunity to disconnect from the stress and chaos of our daily lives and experience the peace that comes with being fully immersed in the natural world. This is an experience that everyone deserves access to, should they desire it.” – Lily Brod, Forester, Manulife Investment Management Forest Management Inc.
- “My favorite designated wilderness area in the U.S. is the Appalachian Mountain range and the Great Smoky Mountains that run through the western part of my new home state of North Carolina. I grew up in a small town surrounded by beautiful forests and lakes far from here. For me, places where nature is clean and forests are green remind me of who I am and where I come from.” – Dr. Jaana Korhonen, ORISE-fellow and research scientist at USDA Forest Service, Forest Policy and Economics unit.
- “I grew up going on backpacking annual trips to the Ansel Adams Wilderness, in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada. When I think of a place where the heavens and earth connect, Thousand Island Lake is what I picture: tall peaks, alpine lakes, blue skies, and mountain moonlight so close you almost feel you can touch them. These days, I am fortunate to live in a state with ample wilderness areas, national parks and national recreation areas, forest service and BLM multiple use areas, state parks and natural resource areas, regional conservation areas, urban parks, and backyard oases. Although not all Wilderness Areas, they all feed into an appreciation of nature, a love of the outdoors and a gratitude for the myriad of public spaces, grand and wild like Thousand Island Lake and small and serene in a neighborhood park.” – Ara Erickson, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability, Weyerhaeuser
- “I go to the wilderness to breathe in the crisp air, to commune with the trees, to watch the wildlife. I go to the wilderness to remember why I do what I do – traipsing the halls of Congress advocating for sensible forest legislation. I go to the wilderness to connect with myself.” – Rebecca Turner, Chief Policy & Partnerships Officer, American Forests
- “My favorite wilderness memory is my first hike in California’s Trinity Alps Wilderness in 2018. I had just returned to the U.S. from Singapore with my rescue dog, who had never seen snow. She frolicked in the alpine meadows, and I felt pure joy in the peaceful surroundings. Being in designated wilderness is humbling—it’s a place we’ve committed to protect and respect in its natural state. That awe inspires my commitment to sustainability, whether in a working forest, a conservation project, or the boardroom.” – MaryKate Bullen – Managing Director, Head of Business Development and Sustainability, Forest Investment Associates
These reflections remind us that wilderness is not just a place—it’s an idea, a responsibility, and a source of strength for those of us working in forestry.
As we celebrate the anniversary of the Wilderness Act, let’s also look to the future. Increasingly, conversations recognize that the concept of wilderness as lands set apart can contribute to a sense that people should remain separate from nature, rather than learning to live harmoniously and reciprocally with our environments. Especially in an era when climate change is causing harms to our wilderness areas and the species that call them home, be it through fire, disease, or shifting temperatures, we must be willing to think creatively about how we relate and care for wilderness. How can we, as a community of forestry professionals, advocates, and stewards, ensure that wilderness remains protected while adapting to the challenges of our time?
Together, we can honor the wilderness and work to protect it, not just as a relic of the past but as a vital part of our collective future.