In 1964, passage of The Wilderness Act promised Americans that there would be lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition. It was a promise from Congress that the American people of present and future generations would be able to enjoy the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness." When President Johnson signed the act into law, he said that "If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it." Where do things stand with that promise? Has it lived up to its lofty goal? To seek an answer to that question, and to get a better understanding of management of wilderness areas, and potentially wilderness, in the country, we've invited George Nickas and Dana Johnson to join us.

George is executive director of Wilderness Watch, a national organization dedicated to defending the nation's National Wilderness Preservation System and keeping it wild, and Dana is the organization's policy director.