William H. Meadows, President of The Wilderness Society.

It was fall of 1934 in East Tennessee. Bob Marshall and several other professional foresters attending a conference there were increasingly concerned about the future of America's wilderness. They pulled their car to the side of the road and soon had invented a group dedicated to protecting wild places.

The Wilderness Society has been pursuing that goal ever since. Why is this mission still so important? Most people mention the beauty of wilderness, and its peace and quiet—qualities that are increasingly scarce. Wilderness also is known for first-rate recreation opportunities. Yet there are many other dividends paid by wilderness protection, and our job is to make more Americans aware of those benefits. For example, wilderness cleans our air and water and sustains wildlife. It preserves history, serves as a natural laboratory, anchors local economies, and nourishes our souls. Because forests store carbon, wilderness preservation is critical if we are to curb global warming.

Protecting this inheritance has been a challenge, and the political climate in Washington in recent years has lengthened the odds of success. Despite those realities, there is much to celebrate about the past year, including these victories:

• We defeated legislation that would have allowed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• We fended off oil and gas development along Montana's stunning, wildlife-rich Rocky Mountain Front, New Mexico's Valle Vidal, and at other special places in the Rockies.
• We led in the creation of nearly a million acres of wilderness areas.
• We blocked the Bush administration's effort to permit logging and road building on roadless national forest land.
• We defeated a proposal to sell some 750,000 acres of national forest land and other public landscapes in 35 states.

Brenda Davis, chair of The Wilderness Society's Governing Council.

Achievements like these are the result of many factors. Perhaps the most significant is the building of imaginative coalitions. For example, in the Rockies we worked closely with ranchers, sportsmen, and outfitters, who care intensely about protecting the land. ConocoPhillips retiree Kirby Hedrick made the rounds with us on Capitol Hill to explain why the administration's drilling plans for Wyoming's Upper Green River Valley should be revised. Our outreach to new partners has brought us together with organizations such as the Congressional Black Caucus, Christians for the Mountains, and the Outdoor Industry Association.

Besides nurturing coalitions, The Wilderness Society pursues its goals though research, analysis, public education, and advocacy. Thirty years ago we created a research department staffed by ecologists, economists, and mapping specialists to build the strongest possible case for protecting land and wildlife. These experts produce documented reports that are shared with grassroots allies and others in the conservation community as we seek to protect our natural heritage.

The 2006 election put conservation-minded members of Congress into leadership positions and thus has provided an important opportunity for us to achieve even more. We are working hand-in-hand with local groups around the country to promote passage of bills that would protect wilderness in California, West Virginia, Arizona, Idaho, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington, and numerous other states. There are now 107 million acres in the National Wilderness Preservation System, and we are committed to adding significantly to that total. We also are determined to reverse the downward trend in the federal funding of land and wildlife conservation. In concert with other major environmental nonprofits, we are fully engaged in the effort to counter the serious threats posed by global warming. The threats are real, and the opportunity to act is now.

Needless to say, our members are essential players in this team effort. You prove that what our founders called "a spirited group of committed people" can accomplish great things together. We dedicate this annual report to the members, partners, and supporters who make this work possible and join us in protecting America's wilderness for generations to come.

Brenda S. Davis
Chair, Governing Council

William H. Meadows
President