National Wilderness Month, 2014

Proclamation 9160 of August 29, 2014

National Wilderness Month, 2014

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Fifty years ago, a forward-thinking Nation came
together, a President put pen to paper, and a great
society secured an enduring gift for future
generations. Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on
September 3, 1964, the Wilderness Act and the Land and
Water Conservation Fund Act began a new era of American
conservation. Together, they set aside an initial 9.1
million acres of Federal land for the use and enjoyment
of the American people and recognized our obligation to
preserve a piece of our original and unspoiled splendor
for posterity. For the first time, our Nation defined
vast stretches of our continent as wilderness and
codified the simple premise that when we take something
from the earth, we have a responsibility to give
something back. On the anniversary of this
environmental milestone, we reflect on our rich
tradition of stewardship, which has preserved the wild
and scenic places we enjoy today, and renew our
commitment to advancing our country's legacy of
conservation in our own time.

Our Nation's wilderness shaped the growth of our
country and the character and spirit of our people.
Early pioneers explored its expanse as they pushed
westward, and its natural bounty sustained settlers who
found new land and new opportunities for prosperity.
Today our vast wilderness--which has grown to more than
109 million protected acres--provides laboratories for
our researchers and classrooms for our students
pursuing new frontiers of science, medicine, and
technology. This land is the habitat for our Nation's
diverse flora and fauna and refuge for Americans of all
ages. And it supports recreation and tourism that
strengthen our economy.

My Administration continues to pursue a conservation
agenda for the 21st century. During my first year as
President, I designated over 2 million acres of
wilderness and more than 1,000 miles of rivers. And
earlier this year, I established the Organ Mountains-
Desert Peaks National Monument, marking the eleventh
time I have used my Executive authority to protect our
pristine landscapes and historic and cultural heritage.

America's open spaces stretch from rocky mountain tops
to windswept tundras, but they are also found between
city blocks and at the end of country roads. In small
towns and urban centers across our Nation, my
Administration is working to reconnect Americans to our
natural beauty. To empower local communities to protect
and utilize these natural resources, we launched the
America's Great Outdoors Initiative. For decades, the
Land and Water Conservation Fund has supported these
efforts by making critical investments to increase
access to the outdoors for hunting and other
recreation, protect our country's iconic features--from
National Parks to Civil War battlefields--and advance
over 40,000 local projects establishing everything from
baseball fields to community green spaces. But 50 years
after President Johnson signed the Fund into law, it is
set to expire without action from the Congress. I have
called for the full and permanent funding of this vital
tool of environmental stewardship, and I continue to
work to make it easier for families to spend time
outside no matter where they live.

Today, our outdoor spaces are more precious than ever,
and it is more important than ever to come together and
protect them for the next generation. During National
Wilderness Month, we draw on the audacity and vision of
previous generations of environmental stewards and
resolve to do our part to preserve our planet for our
children and for their children.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim September 2014 as
National Wilderness Month. I invite all Americans to
visit and enjoy our wilderness areas, to learn about
their vast history, and to aid in the protection of our
precious national treasures.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fourteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
ninth.