Wyoming Wilderness Association

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The Wyoming Wilderness Association is a American non-profit working to protect Wyoming's wild public lands. WWA was founded in 1979 by a group of wilderness advocates and outdoors people who envisioned the first Wyoming Wilderness Act. In 1984 that goal was realized and the passage of the Wyoming Wilderness Act brought to all Americans the permanent protection of an additional 1.1 million acres of ecologically diverse, wild country in Wyoming. WWA was instrumental in passing the act by educate and train activists on a grassroots level. In 2002, WWA was reborn with a new opportunity to protect additional wild watersheds, intact ecosystems, old growth forests, important wildlife habitat, and wildlife migration corridors - wild landscapes that truly deserve lasting protection as Wilderness. Today the organization has over 500 members with offices in Sheridan, Buffalo, Lander, Dubois, and Jackson Wyoming.

Currently, the whole wilderness system in Wyoming is roughly three million acres. Five million acres of spectacular wild land still remain unprotected and vulnerable to development. Not one acre of new wilderness has been protected in Wyoming since 1984.

On February 10, 2012 The Wyoming Wilderness Association celebrated it's 10th Anniversary advocating for more wilderness in Wyoming.

Campaigns

Although the Wyoming Wilderness Association is involved in campaigns to designate new wilderness in Wyoming not all public lands in Wyoming are undeveloped and have wilderness potential. From agency recommendations and citizen's proposals WWA has prioritized the "gem" roadless areas that are left over after large scale industrial development from oil gas and mineral extraction.

Rock Creek recommended wilderness The Rock Creek recommended wilderness area was recommended for wilderness in the 2005 Bighorn National Forest Management Plan. WWA has garnered over 500 business and 1400 individual letters of support in favor of Rock Creek as Congressionally designated Wilderness.

Shoshone National Forest Currently the SNF is revising its Management Plan which will determine the management direction of the forest for the next 10-20 years. The Shoshone National Forest(SNF) is home to prized wildlife habitat and vast tracts of roadless land in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Although 34 roadless areas have been inventoried by the forest service very few have been recommended for wilderness and most are under attack to be released from roadless protection. This forest is surrounded by some of the largest oil and gas fields in Wyoming and pressure is mounting to drill on the forest. Currently Off-road Vehicles and All Terrain Vehicles are increasing efforts to open roadless areas to road development and motorized trails. WWA is seeking more agency cooperation and consideration of public comment supporting roadless.