by Nathan Newcomer, Associate Director

When you work on wilderness campaigns for a number of years, it is easy to forget that most of the public doesn’t fully understand exactly what wilderness is. Often times, wilderness gets confused with State Parks, general national forest lands, or even City Open Space, not to mention the various misconceptions of what wilderness allows and doesn’t allow. In an effort to help clear up some of that confusion, we have compiled a list of conservation terms as they apply to land protection, and have included common activities that occur in each of these designations.

WILDERNESS
Wilderness is Federal public land that is designated by an act of Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States. Once wilderness is designated, the land becomes a part of the National Wilderness Preservation System, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service and National Park Service under the Wilderness Act of 1964, and subsequent wilderness laws. Wilderness is managed for its primeval character. Freedom is an essential quality of wilderness and in the Wilderness Act of 1964, the word “untrammeled” is used to define wilderness. Many people read the word “untrammeled” as “untrampled,” as in not stepped on. Yet the word “untrammeled” means something much different. A “trammel” is a net used for catching fish, or a device used to keep horses from walking. To trammel something is to catch, shackle or restrain it. Untrammeled means something is free or unrestrained. So, wilderness areas are to be unconstrained by humans. Mechanized vehicles are prohibited from wilderness, as is any form of development, such as logging, mining and oil and gas drilling. Common activities in wilderness include hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, backpacking, horseback riding, climbing, scientific research, and any other type of primitive or unconfined recreation.

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA
In 1976, Congress directed the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) through Section 603(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) to inventory and respond to Congress within 15 years:

“… those roadless areas of five thousand acres or more and roadless islands of the public lands, identified during the inventory required by section 201(a) of this Act as having wilderness characteristics described in the Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964 and shall from time to time report to the President his recommendation as the suitability or nonsuitability of each such area or island for preservation as wilderness…”

The inventory identified several hundred Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and made suitability/nonsuitability recommendations. Since the suitability recommendations, Congress has designated wilderness for some WSAs, has designated new WSAs, and has released others from further WSA management restrictions.

The BLM is required by Congress to manage each WSA consistent with the direction provided in Section 603(c) of FLPMA (commonly called the “Interim Management Policy for Lands Under Wilderness Review (or IMP)). In general, BLM is required to maintain the wilderness characteristics of each WSA until Congress decides whether it should either be designated as wilderness or should be released for other purposes. The general management standard is that the suitability of the WSAs for preservation as wilderness must not be impaired. Valid existing rights are recognized, and grandfathered uses such as grazing and mineral uses are allowed but restricted to the same manner and degree as on the date FLPMA was approved. While many activities are allowed within WSAs, some have specific restrictions. For example, recreation vehicle use off existing travel routes and issuing new mineral leases are not allowed. Most primitive recreation activities are allowed and are encouraged. These include hiking and camping, backpacking, fishing and hunting, rock hounding, boating (with or without motors), horseback riding, and the use of pack animals.

NATIONAL PARK
National Parks are Federal public land that is designated by an act of Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States. However, the main difference between National Parks and Wilderness is that parks generally have quite a bit of development in them. There are typically visitor centers, facilities, paved roads, paved trails, concession stands, bookstores, gift shops, gas stations, restaurants and lodging. Although all units of the National Park System in the United States are managed by the National Park Service, they all have their own individual pieces of authorizing legislation, which can provide for certain exceptions and exclusions within each park. For instance, Death Valley National Park has an active mining operation in it. Common activities allowed in National Parks are similar to those experiences in Wilderness, except that hunting is not permitted. Additionally, due to their development focused nature, National Parks will have more human traffic, including mechanized vehicles. Furthermore, National Parks charge an entrance fee.

NATIONAL MONUMENT
Like Wilderness and National Parks, National Monuments are also Federal public land that is designated by an act of Congress and signed into law by the President. However, under provisions in the Antiquities Act of 1906, the President of the United States can also issue a Proclamation declaring National Monument status for any public land without obtaining approval from Congress. Concerns about protecting mostly prehistoric ruins and artifacts—collectively termed antiquities—on western federal lands prompted the legislation. Its purpose was to allow the president to quickly preserve public land without waiting for legislation to pass through an unconcerned Congress. National monuments can be managed by one of several federal agencies, including the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or Bureau of Land Management. Generally, National Monuments on BLM lands have no use fees and no major development on the designated lands. Like most other units of the BLM’s National Landscape Conservation System, monuments don’t have facilities built in them, rather they are designed to remain rugged and offer a primitive experience. Visitor centers are often built in the communities closest to the monument, directing visitors to nearby “gateway communities.”

Whereas wilderness designation would prevent any form of mechanized travel, monuments would allow motorized vehicles, but generally access would be restricted to designated roads. Traditional uses, such as hiking, hunting, camping, backpacking, grazing, etc. would all still be allowed. What’s more, monument proclamations can address specific issues in a variety of ways. Each proclamation creating a national monument is different, in order to address specific issues relating to the individual place at hand.

NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
National Conservation Area is Federal public land that is designated by an act of Congress and signed into law by the President of the United States. National Conservation Areas are managed by the United States Bureau of Land Management under the National Landscape Conservation System. Restrictions vary between conservation areas but generally the areas are not leased or sold under mining laws and motorized vehicle use is restricted. Oftentimes, the legislation will be written to deal with specific uses in any given area, such as allowing for the gathering of wood and piñon nuts in the proposed El Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area.

AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) is a conservation ecology program in the western United States, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The ACEC program was conceived in the 1976 Federal Lands Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), which established the first conservation ecology mandate for the BLM. The FLPMA mandate directs the BLM to protect important riparian corridors, threatened and endangered species habitats, cultural and archeological resources and unique scenic landscapes that the agency assesses as in need of special management attention.

ACEC’s are often seen as a first step towards stronger protection for any given area, however, the designation does not prevent activities such as oil and gas drilling from occurring. Traditional outdoor activities are all permitted in ACEC’s, unless otherwise noted.

STATE PARKS
As the name implies, New Mexico State Parks consist of land owned by the state, and each state park has a five year management plan.  The plans “provide direction for the management and development of the parks in the New Mexico state parks system in a manner that enhances recreational opportunities, protects park resources, and provides for public input and protects the environment” (19.5.3 NMAC). State Parks vary in size, but generally they are relatively small when compared to Wilderness or other forms of federal designation. Here in New Mexico, most of our State Parks center on a body of water and offer fishing and boating activities. State Parks usually have hours of operation and a fee is typically required. However, facilities are readily available at most of the parks, and outdoor recreation such as wildlife viewing, camping, hiking, and picnicking are available. Hunting is not allowed within State Parks.

CITY or COUNTY OPEN SPACE
Open Space is land that is owned and operated by a city or county, and is managed by the Open Space Division. The Open Space Division works to acquire and protect the natural character of land designated as major public Open Space in the 1988 revised City of Albuquerque Comprehensive Plan. These lands, which are comprised of over 28,000 acres in and around Albuquerque, are managed to conserve natural and archaeological resources, provide opportunities for outdoor education, provide a place for high and low impact recreation, and define the edges of the urban environment.

Officers from the Albuquerque Police Department patrol Open Space areas by foot, vehicle, horseback, and mountain bicycle. These fully commissioned law enforcement officers make contact with the public to educate and oversee compliance with rules and regulations. Their dual mission is to protect the Open Space lands and resources while ensuring a safe and enjoyable visit. In addition to these officers, Open Space lands are regularly monitored by volunteers, who are trained to observe and protect the natural characteristics of the environment.

Most Open Space charges a fee, and camping is not allowed, unless you have a permit. Hunting is prohibited on all Open Space, except for at the Open Space Shooting Range on the Westside of Albuquerque. Kayaking or floating down the Rio Grande Open Space is allowed, while off-road vehicle use is restricted to one Open Space area in the South Valley. Other activities such as walking, biking, running, wildlife viewing and picnicking are all encouraged.