What are Wildlands?

As defined in the 2023 report Wildlands in New England: Past, Present, and Future:

Wildlands are tracts of any size and condition, permanently protected from development, in which management is explicitly intended to allow natural processes to prevail with “free will” and minimal human interference. Humans have been part of nature for millennia and can coexist within and with Wildlands without intentionally altering their structure, composition, or function.Wildlands are tracts of any size and condition, permanently protected from development, in which management is explicitly intended to allow natural processes to prevail with “free will” and minimal human interference. Humans have been part of nature for millennia and can coexist within and with Wildlands without intentionally altering their structure, composition, or function.¹

This regional report is the first of its kind to identify land—public and private—where owners have an explicit intent to allow natural processes to prevail for all or part of the parcel. The Wildlands in New England website features a detailed, dynamic map showcasing these areas throughout New England and the tremendous opportunity for additional Wildlands. The scarcity of Wildlands on the map, especially in southern New England, highlights the urgent need to identify and protect natural areas. 

What is the Wildlands Campaign?

Our Wildlands Campaign is committed to increasing the amount of permanently protected Wildlands in Massachusetts and New England. To that end, the Campaign is identifying land that meets the criteria for Wildlands and should be recorded on the interactive Wildlands Map. Further, we are taking other key educational, legislative, administrative, and collaborative actions.  

What is the difference between Wildlands and most conservation land, including Woodlands?

Wildlands and Woodlands are both “conserved” forested lands, i.e. protected from development. What distinguishes them is that Woodlands are or can be actively managed for wood products, plant and wildlife habitat, recreation, or other reasons. Wildlands are formally protected by deed, conservation easement or restriction, or local or state law, as areas in which there is little to no human intervention and nature presides rather than human management. In other words, there is explicit intent for a Wildland to exist.

Why protect Wildlands?

New England is blessed with ample water and beautiful forests.There is enormous need and potential for Wildland protection in Massachusetts and New England. After widespread clearing by European colonizers, the Northeastern U.S. represents the most successful temperate forest recovery in recorded history. 

Prioritizing some of our land for wild nature, particularly to allow our recovering forests to grow and evolve as natural areas (proforestation²) – similar to National Parks – reflects current scientific understanding, public opinion, and financial responsibility. 

Wildlands are essential to all life on Earth.  Here are some of the key benefits that Wildlands can maximize compared to managed forests:

• Climate stability
• Carbon accumulation above and below ground
• Cool, clean air and water
• Flood protection and fire prevention 
• The web of living diversity from microbes to mammals
• Restorative and beautiful spaces where we can recreate, relax, and seek mental and spiritual renewal. 

Forests are critical to the Earth’s planetary operating system, regulating and stabilizing the climate.  Large forests move water inland and across the land, bringing rain to replenish streams and rivers and mitigate local and global weather extremes. The complex interactions among natural forests, water, and greenhouse gas emissions are poorly accounted for in most climate models. Proforestation – the practice of letting existing forests grow and adapt – supports the full range of natural processes and allows them to develop over time.

Without explicit recognition and stronger protection, Massachusetts’ existing and potential Wildlands are at risk of development and degradation. By default, most conservation land is available for regular resource extraction or significant interventions, such as logging, burning, clearing, herbicides – and even mining. In a time of rapidly changing conditions, we need some areas for nature. We cannot afford further damage to our ecological lifelines.

Wildland protection is a bedrock environmental justice issue. Human communities can only thrive when nature thrives. A commitment to environmental justice includes working together to protect the Wildlands we all need for clean air, clean water, and sacred places where people can access wild nature. Climate change impacts environmental justice communities disproportionately. It is therefore essential that we recognize the power of wild nature to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Why pursue the Wildlands Campaign now?

While Massachusetts is approximately 60% forested, less than 2% of the Commonwealth has been identified as Wildlands – and many of these Wildlands do not have permanent protection. The global scientific consensus is that we need to permanently protect at least 30% of our land and water to slow the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss!

As shown in the bar graph below, most of the land in Massachusetts is unconserved forest (which could be developed). While conserved Woodlands cannot be developed, without additional protection Woodlands can be (or are required to be) planted, plowed, clear-cut, logged, burned, sprayed with chemicals, etc.

Below is a recent schematic bar of Massachusetts land, from developed to Wildlands. Clearly Massachusetts has tremendous potential to increase its Wildlands!

Adapted from https://wildlandsandwoodlands.org/progress/dashboard/