Wilderness Web site marks 50th anniversary

The Wilderness Institute at The University of Montana, together with Wilderness50, recently launched a Web site dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act online at www.wilderness50th.org.

The 50th Anniversary National Wilderness Planning Team, also known as Wilderness50, will collaborate on the planning and eventual implementation of local, regional and national events and projects specifically designed to elevate the profile of wilderness during the 50th anniversary celebration.

The Web site will catalogue all local, regional and national 50th anniversary events, meetings, programs, and projects; provide resources and materials for people and organizations interested in hosting or organizing 50th anniversary events; and provide information about the National Wilderness Conference, to be held Oct. 15-19, 2014, in Albuquerque, N.M.

The nation’s wilderness system was established in 1964 for the use and enjoyment of the American people and provides many direct and indirect benefits, such as those relating to ecological, geological, scientific, educational, scenic, spiritual, economic, recreational, historical and cultural uses and activities.

The 758 wilderness areas that exist today are managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service and National Park Service.