Welch Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Landmark ‘Wilderness Act’
BURLINGTON, VT — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, celebrates the 60th anniversary of President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Wilderness Act of 1964, legislation that established the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS). Thanks to the Wilderness Act, America’s protected wilderness areas contain nearly 112 million acres of lands, which includes America’s national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and over 100,000 acres of wilderness area in Vermont.
“Vermont’s great outdoors is home to some of the country’s most scenic views and striking wilderness areas. The Wilderness Act has been crucial to conserving these lands over the last 60 years,” said Senator Welch. “But climate change and extreme weather pose a growing threat to our environment and natural landscapes. Congress must build on this historic legislation to ensure that everyone can enjoy Vermont’s and America’s natural beauty for generations to come.”
Vermont’s protected wilderness areas include:
- Big Branch Wilderness
- Breadloaf Wilderness
- Bristol Cliffs Wilderness
- George D. Aiken Wilderness
- Glastenbury Wilderness
- Joseph Battell Wilderness
- Lye Brook Wilderness
- Peru Peak Wilderness
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