The National Park Service response to climate change in wilderness
Nelson K. 2015. The National Park Service response to climate change in wilderness. Park Science. 32(1):13-18
Wilderness advocates debate whether climate change warrants an active or passive approach to wilderness stewardship. Surveying the 49 units of the National Park System that administered designated wilderness in 2012 and early 2013, this baseline study describes the active approach to wilderness stewardship in a climate change context. The response rate was 94%. A majority of the responding parks report taking action in wilderness in response to climate change. Respondents also reported that these activities affected wilderness character. This response will be welcomed by some and worrisome to others. Nevertheless, the lens of wilderness character continues to provide appropriate and necessary complexity to evaluate stewardship responses.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Nelson, Katie
- Units
- JOTR
- Keywords
- Climate Change, Joshua Tree National Park, prohibited uses, PWR-toolkit, wilderness character