Wilderness Study Areas

As early as the 19th century, many people were concerned about disappearing natural lands. Recently, with evidence of global warming and other environmental changes, public concern has increased. Wilderness areas:

• assure that all wildlands will not disappear.
• help maintain gene pools to provide diversity of plant and animal life in our rapidly changing world.
• serve as unique and irreplaceable living laboratories for medical and scientific research.
• are places of solitude where people can experience freedom from our fast-paced, industrialized society and crowding of people.
• are places where people can renew the human spirit through association with the natural world.

What are Wilderness Study Areas?

Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) are the remaining relatively pristine, roadless areas of our public lands. WSAs that are designated as Wilderness Areas by Congress, become part of our National Wilderness Preservation System. Until then, BLM manages the areas to ensure that wilderness values are not lost.

Currently, BLM Colorado manages 54 WSAs with 346,000 acres recommended for Wilderness Designation; and 52,000 acres currently designated as Wilderness.

A Map of Colorado Wilderness (all federal agencies) is available from the BLM Colorado State Office Information Center for $3

Trail Clean-up

Trash Clean-up

Forest Fire Prevention

Wilderness Study Areas

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