1. Wilderness Characteristics Guidance for the BLM
I. Introduction
II. Inventory Procedures
A. Background
B. Route Analysis & Boundary Identification
C. Size
D. Naturalness
E. Outstanding Opportunities & Supplemental Values
F. Boundary Adjustments & LWC Documentation
III. Planning
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Inventory - Naturalness

2. Inventory Procedures: Naturalness
Wilderness Characteristics Guidance for the BLM
Inventory Procedures:
Naturalness
We looked at the area’s Size first. That was a simple quantitative exercise. Our next criterion, Naturalness, is more of a qualitative judgment call. When you’re looking at an areas Naturalness, you’re really looking to answer two interrelated questions.
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Inventory - Naturalness

3. Inventory - Naturalness
Naturalness – part 1
Appears to be in a natural ecological condition
to the average visitor, not trained biologist
not ”pristine” or total ecological integrity
relatively unaffected by modern human activities (not including climate change)
non-native species do not automatically disqualify
First: does the ecosystem appears to be in a natural ecological condition? --
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appears so to the average visitor, not a trained biologist.
The area does not have to be “pristine” (that word appears nowhere in the Wilderness Act, so we never use it as a criterion). It doesn’t even have to have complete ecological integrity.
It should be an ecosystem relatively unaffected by modern human activities. It just has to “look” natural. Areas with, say, significant cheat grass problems could meet the Naturalness criterion. We’re not going to look at the effects of climate change during our inventory – even though in Alaska that is an increasing effect from modern human activity.
Do not consider the presence of non-native species to disqualify an area unless they are so pervasive as to create a total lack of natural ecosystem function.
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Inventory - Naturalness

4. Inventory - Naturalness
Naturalness – part 2
Are human developments too noticeable?
area should look at though it was affected primarily by the forces of nature
human developments substantially unnoticeable
document all noticeable human impacts
The second question you’re going to answer is whether human developments within the inventory area are so noticeable that the area no longer looks as though it was affected primarily by the forces of nature.
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This is an important concept -- primarily by the forces of nature.
Human developments should be substantially unnoticeable. Not necessarily absent, but substantially unnoticeable.
Document the noticeable human impacts within the area. Documentation is particularly important when dealing with something as subjective as how natural an area looks.
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Inventory - Naturalness

5. Inventory - Naturalness
Naturalness – part 2
Are human developments too noticeable?
private cabins §1303(b)
public use cabins §1315(c)
“temporary” facilities
for hunting & fishing §1316(a)
comm & research sites §1310(a)
The guidance has a list of examples of human-made features that may be considered substantially unnoticeable.
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But ANILCA lists several other developments that specifically may be allowed in Alaskan wilderness areas, so their presence would not automatically preclude finding wilderness characteristics present in an inventory area as might be the case on other BLM-managed lands. Nevertheless, they are an impact to Naturalness.
If several minor impacts exist, you should summarize their cumulative effect on the area’s degree of apparent naturalness. As with any somewhat subjective evaluation, it is all the more important that you fully document your conclusions here.
But you should assess naturalness within the overall context of the area. Think of all the developments you’ve seen in areas that Congress has designated as wilderness. A water trough is usually considered substantially unnoticeable, and a relatively minor human impact on naturalness.
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Cumulative impacts?
Inventory - Naturalness

6. Inventory - Naturalness
Naturalness – part 2
Cumulative impacts?
How many water developments does it take to become substantially noticeable? How many to determine the area lacks naturalness? A lot.
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Of course it depends on the size of the area, what they're made of, if they’re hidden -- a whole range of variables. But at some point there will be too many, and a threshold will be crossed.
(By the way, both pictures here are from Congressionally-designated wilderness areas. The stockpond on the left is from the Paria Canyon – Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness on the Utah/Arizona border; the dam on the right is in the Arrow Canyon Wilderness in Nevada.)
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Inventory - Naturalness

7. Inventory - Naturalness
Naturalness – part 2
Cumulative impacts?
Let's consider another example: Maybe you’re thinking of another human development -- those “ways” you noted back when you were doing your road inventory in order to set the boundary of your inventory area. They aren’t roads, so you didn’t exclude them.
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But are there so many that they actually dominate the landscape? That, too, is an important concept. Does the total influence of human development actually dominate the landscape to the degree that the area no longer appears natural? I’ve been in areas where that’s the case. One office I visited referred to such areas as being “wayed up!” If you have an area that’s been “wayed up,” maybe it’s lacking in Naturalness.
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Inventory - Naturalness

8. Inventory - Naturalness
Naturalness – part 2
Do not consider impacts from outside –
unless ruins ecosystem function
Evaluate major effects from outside
We will not, however, consider human impacts outside the inventory area when assessing the area’s naturalness,
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unless those impacts are so overwhelming as to ruin ecosystem function.
Several wilderness areas border Las Vegas, so apparently that’s not enough to disqualify an area!
If there is a major outside impact, note that in the overall description of the inventory area and evaluate what direct effects it might of one the area.
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Inventory - Naturalness

9. Naturalness – Documentation
Document naturalness rationale
appears to be in natural condition
looks to be affected primarily by the forces of nature
human impacts substantially unnoticeable
So, by now you should know whether or not the naturalness criterion is met by the lands within the inventory unit.
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Does it appear to be in a natural ecological condition?
Does it appear to be affected primarily by the forces of nature?
Are the impacts from human activities substantially unnoticeable? Document your rationale for this determination. Either way -- whether it does or does not meet the naturalness criterion.
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Inventory - Naturalness

10. Naturalness – Documentation
Document naturalness rationale
If naturalness criterion is not met
no wilderness characteristics
further inventory activity not necessary
document!
If naturalness criterion is met
proceed to “opportunities” criterion
Note that if the inventory area does not meet the naturalness criterion, it cannot contain wilderness characteristics. By our definition.
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Further inventory activity is unnecessary. Of course, such a finding must be well documented!
If the inventory unit does meet the naturalness criterion, proceed to the next criterion -- the outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation.
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Inventory - Naturalness

11. Inventory Procedures: Naturalness
Wilderness Characteristics Guidance for the BLM
Inventory Procedures:
Naturalness
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End of Module IID
Inventory - Naturalness