Wilderness

The Wilderness Ethic

Many employment opportunities are available for the natural resources professional interested in working in federally-designated wilderness areas.  These wilderness areas are public lands believed to preserve wilderness character and are under many additional regulations to protect this special character.  This leads to many challenges for natural resources professionals charged with maintaining and protecting wilderness areas.  For instance, existing roads and campgrounds are limited.  Beyond developed areas, motorized equipment use such as off-road vehicle and chainsaws are banned in wilderness areas.  Access points to wilderness areas are also restricted.  Entry is often gained through trailheads located at parking areas and adjacent campgrounds. Trails are minimally marked or maintained.  Backcountry camping is the norm within wilderness areas and visitors are encouraged to pursue wilderness principles such as Leave No Trace.  This is the duty of wilderness rangers- to educate visitors on Leave No Trace principles, respond to emergencies, and track visitor use and impact on the wilderness area.

For additional information, Wilderness.net provides many resources such as a directory of wilderness areas, maps, history, and other information.  The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, a unit of the USDA Forest Service, is a major scientific organization which focuses on research within wilderness areas and related issues.  Finally, The Wilderness Society is an advocacy organization which lobbies for designation and protection of wilderness area. 


Employment Opportunities
Most employment opportunities in wilderness areas are with federal agencies. The Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, National Park Service, and Department of the Interior regularly offer temporary or permanent positions focused on protection of wilderness areas.  Some positions hosted on USAJobs are actual openings at specific locations, others are general continuous open recruitment positions located nationwide.  Other employers may be non-profit organizations (such as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy) which seek to promote safety and Leave No Trace ethics for hikers and campers.

For a range of federal wilderness job opportunities, see USAJobs.gov