Wilderness

History:
– Nature and wildness have been important subjects in various epochs of world history
– Landscape art tradition in the Tang Dynasty
– First known laws to protect nature in Babylonian and Chinese Empires
– Kings of England initiated efforts to protect natural areas for hunting
– In European cultures, wilderness was generally not regarded worth protecting

Importance:
– Wilderness areas cover roughly one-quarter of Earth’s terrestrial surface
– Only 13.2% of the ocean is free from intense human activity
– Governments establish protection for wilderness areas to preserve biodiversity
– Wilderness areas are important for certain species’ survival and ecological studies
– They provide habitat for wild flora and fauna that may be difficult to recreate elsewhere

Degradation:
– Wilderness areas are rapidly degraded by human activity
– Marine wilderness is gaining attention due to degradation
– Earth’s terrestrial surface is being degraded
– Only a small percentage of the ocean remains free from intense human activity
– Protection laws aim to preserve and advance natural expression and development

Ancient Times and Middle Ages:
– Landscape art tradition in the Tang Dynasty influenced Asian art
– First known laws to protect nature in Babylonian and Chinese Empires
– Kings of England initiated efforts to protect natural areas for hunting
– In medieval Christendom, wilderness was considered negatively
– Archiac nature religions oriented towards nature, replaced by divine law in medieval Christendom

15th to 19th Century:
– Colonists viewed wilderness as evil in its resistance to control
– Puritanical view of wilderness led colonists to destroy it for civilized society
– Wilderness was considered the root of colonists’ problems
– Efforts to control and dominate wilderness in North America
– Wilderness seen as a place of danger and moral negativity in European cultures

Wilderness (Wikipedia)

This article is about wildland. For other uses, see The Wilderness and Wilderness (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Wildness or The bush.

Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plural) are natural environments on Earth that have not been significantly modified by human activity, or any nonurbanized land not under extensive agricultural cultivation. The term has traditionally referred to terrestrial environments, though growing attention is being placed on marine wilderness. Recent maps of wilderness suggest it covers roughly one-quarter of Earth's terrestrial surface, but is being rapidly degraded by human activity. Even less wilderness remains in the ocean, with only 13.2% free from intense human activity.

Some governments establish protection for wilderness areas by law to not only preserve what already exists, but also to promote and advance a natural expression and development. These can be set up in preserves, conservation preserves, national forests, national parks and even in urban areas along rivers, gulches or otherwise undeveloped areas. Often these areas are considered important for the survival of certain species, biodiversity, ecological studies, conservation, solitude and recreation. They may also preserve historic genetic traits and provide habitat for wild flora and fauna that may be difficult to recreate in zoos, arboretums or laboratories.