Comparison Of Four Types of Preservation Tools

Our friend Bob Moore, former director of the U.S. BLM in Colorado, calls the diverse designations approach to preservation the "toolkit." Different legal tools accomplish different things. Not every landscape qualifies for Wilderness, and many non-qualifying areas deserve protection. Some Wilderness qualifying areas cannot or should not get Wilderness designation for political, economic, or other reasons. This table shows how four different tools approach preservation issues with varying answers.

  Wilder-ness National Park CPP National Protection Area* CPP National Conservation Area*
Prohibits mining Yes Yes Yes Yes
Prohibits new roads Yes No Yes Yes
Includes roads No Yes No Yes
Allows water project construction No No No No
Prohibits regular logging Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allows stewardship logging for ecosystem management and fire prevention No Yes No Yes
Allows structures No Yes No Only Visitors Center, Toilets, Picnic Tables, Fire Pits
Allows mechanized fire-fighting Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allows mechanized trail maintenance No Yes Yes Yes
Affects private property access Yes Yes Yes Minimally
Allows new trails Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allows hiking Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allows bicycling No Yes Yes Yes
Allows equestrian travel Yes Yes Yes Yes
Allows motorized travel No On roads only No On designated routes
Allows hunting Yes No Yes Yes
Prescribes type of human experience Yes Yes No No

* Note that this table compares the proposed legislation for National Conservation Areas and National Protection Areas. It does not refer to any previous Acts of Congress.