September Named National Wilderness Month

President Obama recently declared September, 2010 as National Wilderness Month, encouraging all Americans to visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, to learn about their vast history, and to aid in the protection of our precious national treasures. Obama has made significant effort while in office to promote and protect America's wilderness. Last year, he signed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, designating more than two million acres of wilderness for protection across the United States. In April this year, the Presdient launched the America's Great Outdoors campaign to develop a community based 21st century conservation agenda. Obama pledged to continue working with states, locals, and tribal partners to connect Americans with the outdoors.

Photo courtesy: John Robinson

There is a possibility another wilderness omnibus bill will pass this Congress. As the 111th Senate winds down, lawmakers are hoping to move dozens of stalled public lands conservation bills by wrapping them into a single package. If signed into law, the bills would designate more than a half-million acres--an area the size of Rhode Island--of public land as federally protected wilderness or conservation areas and pave the way for new wild and scenic river designations. The Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee has sent more than 60 conservation bills to the floor this session that would create new national parks, monuments, wilderness areas, and wildlife sanctuaries. Click here to read the Presidential Proclamation.