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"When we strive to pass wilderness legislation, what we are really engaged in is democracy at work."
- Bart Koehler

Read an important message about patriotism and the purpose of wilderness from our friends at the Wilderness Support Center in Colorado.

A Wilderness Milestone in Alburquerque


Click to see more photos from
the National Wilderness 50th Conference
in Albuquerque, October 2014.

A monumental assemblage of conservation leaders gathered in Albuquerque in Octobe, 2014 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, and to strengthen the foundation for future wilderness preservation. Over a thousand participants engaged in educational workshops, inspiring presentations, and the camaraderie of dedicated people working for a common cause. It was important that the conference drew top leaders of our public lands management agencies: Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, BLM Director Neil Kornze, USFS Chief Thomas Tidwell, USFWS Director Daniel Ashe, a representative for NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis and more. We were especially pleased to see Arizona agency mangers participating, including Jim Upchurch, Coronado National Forest Supervisor; Kenneth Mahoney, BLM Arizona Program Lead for Wilderness and other conservation lands; and others.

A special conference training addressed “Partnerships and Professionalism: The New Paradigm for Wilderness Preservation”, hosted by the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center and held at the lovely Rio Grande Nature Center. AWC’s Executive Director participated on a thought-provoking panel regarding how to plan for sustainability in funding and supporting public lands stewardship.

The conference proper featured outstanding sessions on civic engagement, education, engaging youth and diverse cultures, and much more. The discussions ranged from academic presentations on fire ecology to rousing calls to action for a reinvigorated wilderness constituency.

Here are personal perspectives on this historic gathering from some of AWC’s participants:


Barbara Hawke, AWC Executive Director
The historic Wilderness 50th Conference in Albuquerque conveyed a sense of importance, of something happening that might not recur for a long time. It was humbling to be in the presence of so many environmental leaders who’ve been in the front lines of conservation causes since the 1960’s. Read more...


Sam Frank, former AWC Central Arizona Director
This week long celebration could not have come at a worse time - I am starting a new job and new life, saying goodbye to friends and special places, and moving my family across the country. But I couldn’t miss the historic 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act and, in spite of all that is happening in life right now, I’m glad I went. Read more...


Brian Andersen, AWC Intern
With the help of environmental organizations, the National Park Service and Forest Service, I was able to attend this historic event, along with a small contingent of environmental leaders in the millennial generation. It was both a celebration, and a time to discuss the relevancy of this monumental environmental legislation. I was... Read more...

Click to see event photos from the National Wilderness 50th Conference in Albuquerque (October 2014).

 

-Arizona Wilderness Coalition mission statement