Task Force Leader

Mr Vance G. MARTIN
President
The WILD Foundation
PO Box 1380
Ojai
California 93023
USA
Tel: ++1 (805) 640-0390
Fax: ++1 (805) 640-0230
Email: vance@wild.org
wild.org

"Wilderness" is moving inexorably into the international environmental mainstream. While always a popular concept with the public, the term is now used more often in tourism, biodiversity and natural resource planning. Most importantly, this increased recognition has changed the ancient concept of wilderness as a forsaken and feared place into something desirable, enjoyable, and even necessary.

In a protected area context, an increasing number of professionals now accept wilderness as a distinct category, requiring specialized management. Championed since 1977 by the World Wilderness Congress, international recognition of wilderness as a distinct protected area classification was greatly aided by the inclusion of wilderness as a Category 1(b) protected area in the Framework for Protected Areas (1992) developed by the World Commission on Protected Areas. WCPA's succinct definition is:

"A large area of unmodified or slightly modified land, and/or sea, retaining its natural character and influence, without permanent or significant habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural condition."

This is a great next step for wilderness internationally, but we have much more work to do. We urgently need to educate and inform the public and policy makers that wilderness and people are part of the same equation on planet Earth - they can and should be of mutual benefit. We also need to clarify definitions and standards and, despite the proclivity for wilderness to be defined or regarded differently in different cultures, we need to move towards a common understanding and shared management standards of this very special "commons" resource. In summary, wilderness is different from a park or game reserve, needs special management, and brings significant benefits to both local and remote human communities.

Whether "wilderness" is enshrined in national legislation (such as in South Africa, the United States, Australia, and five other nations), or used as an administrative zoning category (Tanzania, Philippines, Kenya, Mali and many other nations), it still needs our help to assure its protection and sustainability. It is a resource for all people, and the source of many values and services.

We hope you will join us on the Wilderness Task Force, and thereby strengthen the IUCN commitment to wilderness.

Vance G. Martin Khulani Mkhize
Co-Chair, WTF Co-Chair, WTF
President, The WILD Foundation CEO, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife acknowledges with appreciation the Sierra Club for their generous support.