Start Date
2013
Abstract
In 1964 the United States government passed landmark legislation creating a National Wilderness Preservation System to preserve and protect natural landscapes for primitive use. Despite four attempts to create a Cave Wilderness designation, two by the Cave Research Foundation, one by the National Speleological Society and one by a unit within the National Park Service system, no Wilderness designation has been made to protect and preserve a specific cave, region within a cave or a karst region. The question remains: if and when will the US declare a cave or portion of a cave/cave system as Wilderness? Two federal acts and one pending bill are considered significant cave related legislation that may lead the way to an eventual Cave Wilderness designation.
Included in
Environmental Policy Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons
Evaluating the Status of Cave Wilderness
In 1964 the United States government passed landmark legislation creating a National Wilderness Preservation System to preserve and protect natural landscapes for primitive use. Despite four attempts to create a Cave Wilderness designation, two by the Cave Research Foundation, one by the National Speleological Society and one by a unit within the National Park Service system, no Wilderness designation has been made to protect and preserve a specific cave, region within a cave or a karst region. The question remains: if and when will the US declare a cave or portion of a cave/cave system as Wilderness? Two federal acts and one pending bill are considered significant cave related legislation that may lead the way to an eventual Cave Wilderness designation.
