WILD

Solastalgia – Homesick for the wilderness

Over the weekend, the NY Times Magazine published a very poignant article by Daniel B. Smith titled "Is there an Ecological Unconscious?"  The article was circulated to all of those associated with WILD, not just because of its timely message but because of its resonance with the vision of WILD and the work of our founder, Dr. Ian Player.  The article delves into the human psyche's need for wild-nature and our dependence on wild-ecosystems beyond the quantitative needs of clean air, fresh water and fertile soils.   In order to protect wilderness, we must first understand our multi-faceted connection to it.  ... Read More

Can We Stop Trying to Control Nature?

[caption id="attachment_9116" align="aligncenter" width="353" caption="Author James M. Glover"][/caption] This post is an excerpt from an article from the International Journal of Wilderness (April 2000, vol.6 no.1 ) by James M. Glover.  I think you will enjoy his insight into what it means to control nature, and if indeed we can protect land without controlling nature. Scientists in particular are uncomfortable with the wilderness idea because it seems so subjective, soft, and nonquantifiable. —Reed Noss Read More

SALT – First Russian film featuring Sea Kayaking

I just got an email from Ann Zavadskaya, who I met at WILD9 through the WILD9 Young Professionals Program, about the first Russian movie on sea kayaking.  It's a non-commercial movie, so it can be seen online and downloaded by anyone who's interested!  Right now, you can watch the trailer and see some great pics of their adventure, and following the Festival of Kayaking VideoFest in Riga the full length movie will be available for download on the SALT website, which has more information about the project. Read More

Reflections on Endangered Experiences, December 2009 IJW

Reflections on Endangered Experiences: Returning to Our Roots, by Joseph W. Roggenbuck is published in the December 2009 issue of the International Journal of Wilderness.  To read other select articles from this and other issues, and to subscribe to the IJW please visit www.ijw.org. Introduction My purpose here is to reflect on a happy career as a wilderness researcher, teacher, and enthusiast, and to offer concerns, insights, and recommendations about an idea, a system of special places, and a profession that are very dear to me. This essay is organized into four parts. First, I outline my own background, and the persons, ... Read More

Outward Bound Pre-Congress Wilderness Walk for Youth and Young Professionals

Experience the wilderness of Mexico with Outward Bound! WILD is partnering with Outward Bound Mexico to offer a special wilderness walk in the Sian Ka'an wilderness prior to WILD9. All youth and young professionals are invited to participate in this classic Outward Bound trip, where they will learn back-country skills and connect with this one of a kind location. Sian Ka'an is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean (approx 1.3 million acres). More information, cost and registration details > Read More

International Photography Expedition Documents B.C.’s Threatend Flathead River Valley

[caption id="attachment_6697" align="aligncenter" width="350" caption="Photo by Harvey Locke"][/caption] A team of international photographers, videographers, journalists, artists and avid conservationists (many or whom are members of the International League of Conservation Photographers) journeyed into the wild Flathead River Valley (British Columbia) for 10 days to document its very special qualities and make a case for protecting the area from industrial threats.  The RAVE (Rapid Assessment Visual Expedition) is an initiative of the iLCP - and has brought international attention and action to many conservation hot-spots. The Goal: To help draw attention to the industrial threats facing the Flathead and to document the extraordinary natural values ... Read More

Wilderness Quote

I read this great quote the other day.  Thought it would be a nice way to start of the weekend: However destructive may be the policies of the government and the methods and products of the corporations, the root of the problem is always to be found in private life. We must learn to see that every problem that concerns us as conservationists always leads straight to the question of how we live. The world is being destroyed, no doubt about it, by the greed of the rich and powerful. It is also being destroyed by popular demand. There are not ... Read More

Ian Player Perspective – Lake St. Lucia

The current crisis on Lake St Lucia, the pearl of iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a UN World Heritage Area) as it is now known, began a long time ago, probably when the great Zulu king Shaka rose to power in the 1800's and began increasing the cattle herds in the Imfolozi catchments. The concomitant soil erosion apart from the natural erosion with the great floods of that period led to a gradual silting of the Lake. However, when I first visited Imfolozi Game Reserve in 1952 the White Imfolozi River was dry, but there were pools 20 feet deep in ... Read More

The African Wild Dog – Not Your Average Fido

Wild Dogs, African Hunting Dogs, Painted Dogs, whatever you choose to call them, are likely my favorite African mammal. Some of my most enjoyable times in the bush were watching these highly endangered critters at their dens, teaching their young to hunt, deploying strategy as they pursue game, and simply hanging out with the pack. Experts regard them as Africa's" most efficient" predator, with an extremely high ratio of kills to chases. It is also one of the reasons that farmers consider them vermin and still kill them on sight, therefore being the biggest threat to ... Read More

How do American’s View Wilderness? Through Green-Colored Glasses?

A recent survey as part of the Internet Research Information Series reveals that Americans, whether living in rural or urban areas, the east or the west (or anywhere in between), value wilderness for most of the same reasons.  Across the nation, the most valued benefits of Wilderness are protecting air and water quality.  Other front runners are: protecting wildlife habitat, knowing that future generations will have Wilderness to visit,  protecting rare and endangered plant and animal species, and preserving unique wild plants and animals. Read More