How is wilderness designation different from other federal public land designations?
Wild, undeveloped federal lands, often called “backcountry”, are not immune from susceptible to development, road building, and off-road vehicular use. These areas are protected only by administrative regulations that administrators can change. By contrast, designating an area as “Wilderness” ensures protection from development by law “for the permanent good of the whole people.” Designated wilderness is the highest level of protection for federal lands. The Wilderness Act prohibits permanent roads and commercial enterprises, except commercial services that may provide for recreational or other purposes of the Wilderness Act. Most wilderness areas do not allow motorized equipment, motor vehicles, mechanical transport, temporary roads, permanent structures or installations (with exceptions provided for in Alaska).Wilderness areas are to be primarily affected by the forces of nature, though the Wilderness Act does acknowledge the need to provide for human health and safety, protect priva
