April, 1998
WILD’s President, Vance Martin contributes a feature titled “The Trail Ahead” in this issue of the IJW. He calls upon readers to provide feedback and responses to their view of wilderness – especially with regard to the never-ending tightrope walk between the (perceived) needs of wild nature and the needs of humankind fulfilled by wild nature. Also in this issue, H. Ken Cordell and Jeff Teasley present the results from the USA National Survey on Recreation and Environment. One finding of the survey showed that in 1994-1995 almost 95% of the US population participated in some form of outdoor recreation.
Managing Editor Michelle S. Mazzola captures some adventures of the IJW executive editors in the wilderness. Quotes from Alan Watson, John Hendee and others tell the story of wilderness advocate who “walk the walk.” Kristi de Groot presents highlights from the First Latin American Congress on National Parks and Other Protected Areas. Cuban Protected Areas, held 21-28 May 2977 in Santa Marta, Columbia. Participants discussed issues including: International Guidelines for Land Designation and Management, Indigenous Groups within National Parks and Protected Areas and Community-Based Conservation.
Vance Martin presents the results of the 6th World Wilderness (Bangalore, India, 24-29 October 1998), under the leadership of Chairman Mr. Partha Sarathy of The WILD Foundation and Congress Executive Officer Mr. Krishnan Kutty of the National Outdoor Leadership School. Rob Cooley discusses how wilderness therapy can help troubled adolescents and Alan Watson explores sustainable financing of Parks and Protected Areas through user fees.
This issue of the IJW presents news about the 6th World Wilderness Congress, 18-25 October 1997 in India. John Hendee (managing editor) offers insight into this upcoming event – the first WWC to meet in a developing nation. A quiz by Kendall Clark and Susan Kozacek can tell you how your personal wilderness values rate, is fun and also proves extremely useful in wilderness management training sessions. Aaron R. Kelson and Robert J. Lilieholm present a scientific study of how activities on adjacent lands influence wilderness resources.
A very personal note from WILD’s President Vance Martin, remembering Sir Laurens van der Post closes this issue of the IJW. Vance retells when he first read “Heart of the Hunter,” and the mesmerizing way in which van der Post was able to capture in a story the “sense and texture of wilderness.” Vance continues on to tell of when he first met van der Post, at the 2nd World Wilderness Congress (Australia 1980), and lead to a 20 year working and learning relationship.
WILD’s President Vance Martin again closes the IJW honoring the passing of pioneers in the international wilderness movement. Nick Steele (South Africa) and Wally O’Grady (Australia) were “like emergent trees in the rainforest canopy, they were guardians over the rest of the forest.” There is also a funny section “Wilderness Lovers Say the Darndest Things,” highlighting comments left on the US Forest Service registration sheets and comment cards