"If a tree falls in the forest, does anybody hear?"

Bruce Cockburn, musician, songwriter and environmentalist

Wilderness has an intrinsic value regardless of what benefits humans can extract from it. When a tree falls in the forest, it has consequences for a myriad of local and distant processes and dependencies in nature, largely unknown to us and perhaps unknowable.

Respect and reverence for these natural ecosystems, particularly those that have remained relatively untouched by humans, are the foundation of a deeper land ethic that is recognized around the world. Solitude and a reliance only on the resources that a visitor can bring without motorized help strengthens the bond and respect that humans have for nature.

Roadless wilderness areas have enormous ecological and scientific values. Most ecologists and foresters agree that forestry methods can and will be improved tremendously in the working forest as we learn more about our original forest ecosystems.

Ecologically sound land management must retain on the landscape the full diversity of forest types, of all ages, in order to support the "living landscape laboratories" from which we learn how to manage forests over the longer term. Research and science are central long-term benefits of roadless wilderness sites. They are already a critical ingredient of U.S. forestry, where they take the form of research natural areas and other designations reflecting the scientific value of wilderness.

Worldwide, it is the areas protected from industrial activities that have become the laboratories of the future, where science looks for the secrets of nature's creativity.

Ontario provincial parks still aspire to protecting the full diversity of life science and earth science features of the province. Realistically, there are major challenges to reach that goal in the Great Lakes and boreal ecoregions. The key to preserving any useful examples of the natural heritage of the northern Great Lakes and boreal forests are the wilderness areas that remain on public lands and are still free of roads.

Studying wilderness provides insight into how ecosystems function relatively free from human interference. For many years, this is how we have learned about the impacts of humans on ecosystems and about minimizing that impact by replicating natural processes. In many regions roadless natural areas are local sanctuaries for species that have seen their habitat shrink and are "donor" areas that help restore the biodiversity of working landscapes around them.

Individually, we look to wilderness for rest, recreation and inspiration. Remote tourism, canoeing and hiking have become increasingly important economic activities that rely on the unique experiences that wilderness provides. They also spin off economic benefits as businesses develop to provide out-of-door equipment, transportation, accommodation, guiding and other goods and services for tourists.

The focus of wilderness recreation is normally on challenge, mobility and personal exploration, and Ontarians have a long history of recreation in wild or near-wild areas. It provides a necessary counterpoint to modern life. The emphasis of this form of tourism has always been on its remoteness.

Chris Maser, U.S. Consulting Forester, 1993

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