Front cover of National Inquirer's Wilderness Benefits edition featuring illustrated panels for each of the six articles in the journal.

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Wilderness Benefits – Vol. 7 No. 1

The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System, leading to protection of 106,498,016 acres of land in America. What are the benefits of this wilderness land? Scientists in this journal study the importance of wilderness land to wild animals, humans, and ecosystems.

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6 Articles
10 Activities
Lesson Plan
Reading Guide
19 Scientists
Glossary

Glossary

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aerial
(er ē ǝl): Of, relating to, or occurring in the air or atmosphere.
amphibian
(am fi bē ǝn): Any of a class (Amphibia) of cold-blooded vertebrates (such as frogs, toads, or salamanders) that have many characteristics that place them between fish and reptiles and having gilled aquatic larvae and air-breathing adults.
barren
(ber ǝn): Producing little or no vegetation.
biodiversity
(bī ō dǝ vǝr sǝ tē ): Biological variety in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals.
boreal
(bȯr ē ǝl): Of, relating to, or located or growing in northern or mountainous regions, characterized especially by dominance of coniferous forests.
climate
(klī mǝt): The average weather conditions of a particular place or region over a period of years.
colleague
(kä lēg): A fellow worker or professional.
component
(kǝm pō nǝnt): A part or element of something; an ingredient.
composition
(käm pǝ zi shǝn): The manner in which the parts of a thing are put together.
concept
(kän sept): A general idea.
Congress
(käŋ grǝs): The supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic; in this case, the group of elected officials in the United States that makes the laws, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
designate
(de zig nāt): To appoint or choose by name for a special purpose; to mark or point out.
ecological
(ē kə lä ji kəl): Of or relating to the environments of living things or to the relationships between living things and their environments.
ecosystem
(ē kō sis tǝm): A system made up of an ecological community of living things interacting with their environment especially under natural conditions.
ecosystem service
(ē kō si stǝm sǝr vǝs): Any of the various benefits provided by plants, animals, and the communities they form.
element
(e lǝ mǝnt): One of the parts of which something is made up.
elevation
(e lǝ vā shǝn): The height above sea level.
endangered species
(in dān jǝrd spē sēz): A plant or animals with so few individual survivors that the species could become extinct in the area where it naturally lives.
federal
(fed (ə) rəl): Of or being a form of government in which power is distributed between a central authority and individual units.
fragmentation
(frag mǝn tā shǝn): The process of breaking up or apart.
genetic diversity
(juh neh tik di vür suh te): The condition of having or being composed of a variety of differing genes.
geology
(jē ä lə jē): A science that deals with the history of the Earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks.
habitat
(ha bә tat): The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows.
habitation
(ha bə tā shən): The act of inhabiting or living in a place.
hibernate
(hī bǝr nāt): To pass the winter in a sleeping or resting state.
hypothesis
(hī pä thǝ sǝs): An assumption or idea that is proposed for the sake of argument so that it can be tested to see if it might be true.
indicator
(in dǝ kā tǝr): Something that acts as a sign, symptom, or index of.
land cover
(land kə vər): Data that documents how much of a region is covered by forests, wetlands, impervious surfaces, agriculture, and other land and water types, like wetlands or open water. Definition from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).
legally
(lē gǝ lē): From the point of view of law.
majority
(mə jȯr ə tē): A number or percentage equaling more than half of a total.
manage
(ma nij): (1) To look after and make decisions about; (2) to treat with care.
manage
(ma nij): (1) To look after and make decisions about; (2) to treat with care.
manager
(ma ni jür): A skilled person who directs or manages something.
median
(mē dē ən): A value in a series arranged from smallest to largest below and above which there are an equal number of values or which is the average of the two middle values if there is no one middle value.
metamorphosis
(me tǝ mȯr fǝ sǝs): The process of basic and usually rather sudden change in the form and habits of some animals during transformation from an immature stage (as a tadpole or a caterpillar) to an adult stage (as a frog or a butterfly).
microclimate
(mī krō klī mət): The essentially uniform local climate of a usually small site or habitat.
migration
(mi gra shun): The act of moving from one place to another.
national forest
(na sh(ə) nəl fȯr əst): A usually forested area of considerable extent that is preserved by government decree from private exploitation and is harvested only under supervision; managed by the USDA Forest Service in the United States.
national grassland
(na sh(ə) nəl gras land): Grassland managed by the USDA Forest Service for sustainable multiple uses as part of the National Forest System. Definition from the USDA Forest Service.
national park
(na sh(ə) nəl pärk): An area of special scenic, historical, or scientific importance set aside and maintained by a national government and in the U.S. by an act of Congress; managed by the National Park Service, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
national wildlife refuge
(na sh(ə) nəl wī(ə)l(d) līf re fyüj): A contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats. Definition from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
native
(nā tiv): Living or growing naturally in a particular region.
natural resource manager
(na ch(ǝ) rǝl rē sȯrs ma ni jǝr): A person who cares for and oversees the use of natural resources.
outdoor recreation
(au̇t dȯr re krē ā shǝn): Activities done outside for fun, such as hiking, boating, or playing baseball.
plant community
(plant kə myü nə tē ): An interacting population of various kinds of plants (such as species) in a common location.
population
(pä pyǝ lā shǝn): The total of individuals occupying an area.
preservation
(pre zər vā shən): The activity or process of keeping something that is valued alive, intact, or free from damage or decay.
publicly
(pǝ bli klē): By the people generally or by a government.
random
(ran dəm): Being or relating to a set or to an element of a set each of whose elements has equal probability of occurrence; having a definite and especially an equal probability of occurring.
relationship
(ri lā shǝn ship): The state of being connected through a relation that is known or can be discovered.
represent
(re pri zent): To serve as a specimen, example, or instance of.
representative
(re pri zen tə tiv): A member of the house of representatives of the U.S. Congress or a state legislature.
reservoir
(re zǝ vwär): An artificial lake where water is collected and kept in quantity for use.
sample
(sam pəl): A small subset group, representative of the entire group.
satellite imagery
(sa tǝ līt i mij rē): Pictures taken from a satellite, which is a manufactured object or vehicle intended to orbit the Earth, the Moon, or another celestial body.
shrub
(shrəb): A woody plant that has several stems and is smaller than most trees.
silt
(silt): Very small particles left as sediment in water.
social scientist
(sō shǝl sī ǝn tist): A scientist who studies the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society.
species
(spē sēz or spē shēz): A category of living things that ranks below a genus, is made up of related individuals able to produce fertile offspring, and is identified by a two-part scientific name.
speculate
(spe kyǝ lāt): To think or wonder about a subject; to theorize.
subsistence
(sǝb si stǝn(t)s): The minimum (like food and shelter) necessary to support life; a source or means of obtaining the necessities of life.
Superfund
(sü pər fənd): The informal name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA); the act that allows the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up contaminated sites and also forces the parties responsible for the contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work. Definition from the Environmental Protection Agency.
sustain
(sǝ stān): (1) To give support or relief to; (2) to keep up.
wetlands
(wet landz): Land or areas (such as marshes or swamps) that are covered, often intermittently, with shallow water or have soil saturated with moisture.
wilderness
(wil dǝr nǝs): In this case, an area designated by Congress to be preserved in a wild and natural condition as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
wilderness
(wil dǝr nǝs): In this case, an area designated by Congress to be preserved in a wild and natural condition as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
wildlife
(wī(e)l(d) līf): Living things and especially mammals, birds, and fishes that are neither human nor domesticated.
wildlife
(wī(e)l(d) līf): Living things and especially mammals, birds, and fishes that are neither human nor domesticated.

Classroom Review Board

Wilderness Benefits Edition Review Board

Editorial Review Board Comments

“It was very interesting learning about GIS. I think I could explain to someone else if I needed to.”
“Good job at what you’re doing. Keep it up.”
“It’s a great issue but some of the words were difficult. Maybe some should be explained in detail a little better.”
“Good facts. Very informative.”
“There are very good questions for the readers.”
“I like how the method is included.”
“Put more of the scientists’ comments or stories in there to make it interesting.”
“Very Good! Consider a large print version.”
“I think there are too many words that must be defined. People do sometimes get tired of looking up words.”
“The article was really interesting. I really think that kids our age will enjoy this article, because everyone loves frogs!”
“Put your definitions on the very end of the article.”
“Good title, very catchy.” (In reference to the article “It’s Elemental, My Dear”)
“I think y’all did a good job of wording the paragraphs. And the graphs & charts are very well explained.”
“Loved the little trivia, needs more to make it more catchy.”
“Those are really good photographs.”
“How do they absorb oxygen through their skin?” (In reference to the article “As the Frog Hops”)
“I thought it was an interesting article and it would persuade anyone into interest of the wilderness!”
“Needs 2 be worded better.”
“It’s a good magazine, even though it’s confusing sometimes.”

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Gregory Aplet

Forest Ecologist

My favorite science experience was studying vegetation development on lava flows in Hawai’i. It was fascinating to see how plants get started on bare rock, but the coolest thing was...
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John Bergstrom

Social Scientist

When I was a senior in high school, we took a biology field trip to a saltwater marsh on the coast of Virginia. As part of this trip, we walked...
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Michael Bowker

Social Scientist

One of the great joys I receive from being a scientist has been seeing both of my children pursue science degrees in college. My favorite science experience was working on...
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Ken Cordell

Social Scientist

“I like my work and working for the Forest Service very much. My work as a scientist involves studying how people relate to the natural world and what they like...
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Don English

Social Scientist

My favorite science experience was working with my son Peter to compare flight times and distances of five different paper airplane designs. We made 3 planes of each design and...
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Brian Glaspell

Social Scientist

My favorite science experience was having no idea what time of the day or night it was while interviewing visitors under the ‘midnight sun’in Gates of the Arctic National Park.
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Gary Green

Social Scientist

“One favorite science experience was playing with a chemistry set and accidentally blowing up a test tube when I was eight. I learned a lot from that experience!” “Another favorite...
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Jay Harvard

My favorite science experience was visiting and doing research in Iceland. You can see me here floating on a small iceberg in front of part of the Myrdalsjokull Glacier in...
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Katie Kneeshaw

Social Scientist

My favorite science experience was when I flew into the base camp of Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park and Preserve. I talked with people who climb mountains about their...
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John Loomis

Social Scientist

I like being a scientist because I like solving puzzles about human behavior. I am interested in how much people value clean air and water, and protecting the environment for...
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Pete Morton

Economist/Resource Economist

My favorite science experience was the summer I spent camping with Dr. Aplet in the Colorado mountains when we were doing some research on wilderness. During the day, we collected...
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Danielle Murphy

My favorite science experiment was going out on a boat to collect little bugs that live in the water called zooplankton. We wanted to see if the bugs would eat...
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Don Pendergrast

Chief of Interpretation

My favorite science experience was going with my father and uncle on Saturday mornings to the Pendergrast Chemical Company. Saturday afternoons were spent hunting through junk yards for pumps, pipes,...
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Charles Peterson

My favorite science experience was working on a study of where garter snakes like to hide at night. Garter snakes are interesting and live in beautiful areas. My colleagues and...
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David Pilliod

Ecology

My favorite science experience is going out at night to look for frogs and toads. I use flashlights to find them clinging to branches in the trees, floating in ponds,...
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Kurt Riitters

Ecologist

“My favorite science experience is asking and answering questions that have not been asked before.” “[Another] favorite science experience was the discovery of a new computer method to measure forest...
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Peter Ritson

Ecology

It is hard to pick my favorite science experience since I have had so many different types of experiences in geology, oceanography, chemistry, and biology. Remembering my time in Idaho...
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Michael Tarrant

Other

My favorite science experience was swimming with dolphins and studying their habitat in the continental shelf at Kaikoura, New Zealand. This photograph shows the mountains of New Zealand, where I...
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Alan Watson

Social Scientist

“I like being a scientist because I’m helping to keep something special for future Americans. I became interested in natural resources when I was a kid and my family used...
View Profile
Mark Wilbert

My favorite science experience was being the field technician for a research project where we investigated the fertilizer benefits and the environmental impact of irrigating young forests with wastewater from...
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Additional Resources

USDA Forest Service: 100 Years of the Gila Wilderness

What do student-produced documentaries, a crosscut saw competition and cultural performances all have in common? The answer: the 2024 Centennial Anniversary of the Gila Wilderness, the first designated Wilderness in the world! The story of the Gila Wilderness is intrinsically tied to the vision and foresight of Aldo Leopold, a pioneering conservationist and a USDA Forest Service employee. However, Leopold was far from the only person to understand the importance and value of the Gila Wilderness. The Gila Wilderness was established on June 3, 1924, as the world's first designated Wilderness area. Forty years later, the Wilderness Act of 1964 formally defined Wilderness areas as “untrammeled by man, where man himself is only a visitor and who does not remain.”
Read Article
Wilderness Connect

Created by a partnership between the University of Montana and federal agencies, Wilderness Connect educates hundreds of thousands of visitors annually about the benefits of wilderness and stewardship of wilderness under the Wilderness Act.
Visit Website
National Park Service: Gates of the Arctic National Park

This vast landscape does not contain any roads or trails. Visitors discover intact ecosystems where people have lived with the land for over ten thousand years. Wild rivers meander through glacier-carved valleys, caribou migrate along age-old trails, endless summer light fades into aurora-lit night skies of winter. Virtually unchanged, except by the forces of nature. Learn more about the park at the official National Park Service website.
Visit Website
NPR: Expedition to Gates of the Arctic

The Wilderness Act, a major U.S. law providing the strongest protection possible to more than 100 million acres of land, celebrates its 40th anniversary on Friday. For the NPR/National Geographic co-production Radio Expeditions, NPR’s Elizabeth Arnold marks the anniversary with a visit to one of the most remote places in the country -- the Gates of the Arctic National Park, north of the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range of Alaska.
Listen to Broadcast
USDA Forest Service: Salmon-Challis National Forest

The Salmon-Challis National Forest covers over 4.3 million acres in east-central Idaho. Included within the boundaries of the Forest is 2.3 million acres of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area, the largest contiguous wilderness area in the Continental United States.
Visit Website
The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute

The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, part of U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS), is an interagency, national research facility located on campus at the University of Montana. The Leopold Institute is the only federal research group in the United States dedicated to development and dissemination of knowledge needed to steward the nearly 112-million acre, U.S. National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS), and similarly protected wild lands.
Visit Website

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Wilderness Benefits – Vol. 7 No. 1

Highlights

Glossary

aerial

amphibian

barren

biodiversity

boreal

climate

colleague

component

composition

concept

Congress

designate

ecological

ecosystem

ecosystem service

element

elevation

endangered species

federal

fragmentation

genetic diversity

geology

habitat

habitation

hibernate

hypothesis

indicator

land cover

legally

majority

manage

manage

manager

median

metamorphosis

microclimate

migration

national forest

national grassland

national park

national wildlife refuge

native

natural resource manager

outdoor recreation

plant community

population

preservation

publicly

random

relationship

represent

representative

reservoir

sample

satellite imagery

shrub

silt

social scientist

species

speculate

subsistence

Superfund

sustain

wetlands

wilderness

wilderness

wildlife

wildlife

Classroom Review Board

Wilderness Benefits Edition Review Board

Editorial Review Board Comments