A look at how America has preserved more than 100 million acres of diverse wilderness areas in 44 states, now protected in our National Wilderness Preservation System. Discussion of current visions valuing wilderness and its place in our culture.

Comprehensive synthesis of information organized under six main areas: the setting, legal basis for wilderness, management concepts and direction, important elements for management, wilderness use and its management, and problems and opportunities, all as they relate to the North American, principally U.S., scene.