Why is it important that the public is aware of the National Wilderness Preservation System?
National studies show that while Americans overwhelmingly support wilderness, few people know what designated wilderness is, how they benefit from it whether they visit or not, or how these public lands should be managed. Yet Americans guide both wilderness designation and management through their representatives in Congress and in public comments to agency managers. To be informed constituents and stewards of federal public lands, Americans need to know the how and why of wilderness.
