Wilderness Land Trust
Encyclopedia
The Wilderness Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Carbondale, Colorado, whose mission is to acquire private lands (inholding
s) in current and proposed wilderness areas and transfer them to the federal government so that they will be kept forever wild as wilderness
. Since the Trust was founded in 1992 it has purchased over 24000 acres (97.1 km²) in 70 wilderness areas.
, mostly the legacy of 19th-century land disposal practices such as the General Mining Act of 1872
, the Homestead Act
, and Railroad Land Grants. Under the Wilderness Act
of 1964, private land inside wilderness areas may be mined, logged, and otherwise developed. In some cases roads and utilities may be extended through surrounding wilderness, and houses may be constructed. By acquiring inholdings as they become available, the Trust keeps these areas free from development.
Inholding
An inholding is privately owned land inside the boundary of a national park, national forest, state park, or similar publicly owned, protected area...
s) in current and proposed wilderness areas and transfer them to the federal government so that they will be kept forever wild as wilderness
Wilderness
Wilderness or wildland is a natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by human activity. It may also be defined as: "The most intact, undisturbed wild natural areas left on our planet—those last truly wild places that humans do not control and have not developed with...
. Since the Trust was founded in 1992 it has purchased over 24000 acres (97.1 km²) in 70 wilderness areas.
Private land inside wilderness areas
About 400000 acres (1,618.7 km²) of inholdings remain within the National Wilderness Preservation SystemNational Wilderness Preservation System
The National Wilderness Preservation System of the United States protects federally managed land areas designated for preservation in their natural condition. It was established by the Wilderness Act upon the signature of President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964...
, mostly the legacy of 19th-century land disposal practices such as the General Mining Act of 1872
General Mining Act of 1872
The General Mining Act of 1872 is a United States federal law that authorizes and governs prospecting and mining for economic minerals, such as gold, platinum, and silver, on federal public lands...
, the Homestead Act
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
, and Railroad Land Grants. Under the Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
of 1964, private land inside wilderness areas may be mined, logged, and otherwise developed. In some cases roads and utilities may be extended through surrounding wilderness, and houses may be constructed. By acquiring inholdings as they become available, the Trust keeps these areas free from development.