Wilderness, Value of

Abstract Why should we preserve areas known as wilderness? What good is wilderness preservation? What is wilderness preservation for? An answer to each of these questions will presuppose that those places we call wilderness have a certain value or set of values. For over a century people have been putting forth various arguments for why we should value and preserve wilderness. Over time, the assumed values of wilderness have changed. In the early part of the twentieth century these arguments appealed to the broad range of recreational values wilderness provides. More recently, wilderness arguments have been premised upon scientific values associated with wilderness preservation. Upon examination, however, these arguments are not all equally persuasive. Here we review these arguments and offer a general examination or critique of the values upon which these arguments are premised.