1 INTEGRATING WILDERNESS CHARACTER INTO PLANNING Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, March 2012 Wilderness Character Webinar #3 Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, March 2012 Wilderness Character Webinar #3

KEY REVIEW POINTS Wilderness character is composed of five qualities that are comprehensive, nationally consistent, and locally applied 2 This framework of wilderness character is a tool to improve discussion among staff, leading to informed recommendations and decisions These ideas are relatively new, so HOW they are implemented will likely improve over time

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR INTEGRATING WILDERNESS CHARACTER INTO PLANNING BASIC WILDERNESS INFORMATION What is the basic information that every wilderness manager needs? WILDERNESS CHARACTER NARRATIVE What is unique and special about the wilderness? FUTURE PLANNING ISSUES What are the short and long term issues and concerns? 3

Relationship to other specific plans (visitor use, fire management, commercial services, education, exotic species, climbing, climate change) 4 Wilderness legislation, special provisions, legislative history Accurate GIS map of the wilderness Existing plan direction Resource Management Plan (BLM) Land Management Plan (FS) Comprehensive Conservation Plan (FWS) General Management Plan, Foundation (NPS) BASIC WILDERNESS INFORMATION Special provisions Legislation Legislative history

Definition:Definition: Qualitative description of what is unique and special about the wilderness Qualitative description of what is unique and special about the wilderness Organized by each quality of wilderness character Organized by each quality of wilderness character Describes what is valued and threats to these values Describes what is valued and threats to these values Provides depth and nuance in 5 to 20 pages based on a workshop, interviews Provides depth and nuance in 5 to 20 pages based on a workshop, interviews Qualitative description of what is unique and special about the wilderness Qualitative description of what is unique and special about the wilderness Organized by each quality of wilderness character Organized by each quality of wilderness character Describes what is valued and threats to these values Describes what is valued and threats to these values Provides depth and nuance in 5 to 20 pages based on a workshop, interviews Provides depth and nuance in 5 to 20 pages based on a workshop, interviews Uses:Uses: Complements and informs planning direction Complements and informs planning direction Fosters integration and shared understanding between different staffs and programs Fosters integration and shared understanding between different staffs and programs Provides a solid basis for identifying measures Provides a solid basis for identifying measures Frames decisions and consequences Frames decisions and consequences Complements and informs planning direction Complements and informs planning direction Fosters integration and shared understanding between different staffs and programs Fosters integration and shared understanding between different staffs and programs Provides a solid basis for identifying measures Provides a solid basis for identifying measures Frames decisions and consequences Frames decisions and consequences 5 WILDERNESS CHARACTER NARRATIVE Examples at:

FUTURE PLANNING ISSUES Short and long term threats to wilderness character Standards or thresholds that trigger action, including cumulative impacts from permitted uses (How much is too much administrative, commercial, scientific use?) Zoning to preserve wilderness character across the entire wilderness 6

NEW PLANNING TOOLS: Mapping wilderness character Remoteness in the Racetrack area, Death Valley Wilderness Existing RoadImproved Road The darker the green the better the remoteness The darker the brown the bigger the adverse impact on remoteness 7

NEW PLANNING TOOLS: NPS Wilderness Stewardship Plan Handbook Review draft available at: cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=WC Provides direction for creating wilderness stewardship plans driven by the concept of preserving wilderness character 8