
Our gold standard

Here at Society for Wilderness Stewardship, we are committed to implementing the gold standard of wilderness and natural resource management across the United States. But what is the "gold standard"?
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We define the gold standard of wilderness management as the high functioning of five components: annual monitoring & informed, active management; data strategy & quality, ecological functioning; wilderness character; connected management & stewardship communication markets; and effective public interface.
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We define the high functioning of these components as presence of the following:
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Annual Monitoring & Informed, Active Management - Annual reports that actively reflect conditions on the ground; federal and agency-specific law and policy compliance for all wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, special designations in wilderness, and natural resources; wilderness management plans and unit (Forest/Park/Area/Refuge) plans that reflect current wilderness conditions and provide adaptive management benchmarks to deliver on agency mission while protecting wilderness character and ecological integrity.
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Data Strategy & Quality - Data strategy, quality, collection, management and analysis that follows best practices and prizes quality. There is real time analysis of data, and seamless integration with field operations. Geographic information, GIS records, mapping, boundaries and characteristics are accurate, up to date, available to managers and stewards, and synthesized across platforms. Manager, field staff and specialist work plans allow time every year to complete all of the above.
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Ecological Functioning - Ecosystem and ecological functioning are intact and reflective of historic levels, biodiversity is high and no species are endangered, the area experiences its historic fire regime, and there is minimum disturbance to the area’s ecology, along with a promotion of resilience through stewardship and management. The area is open to Indigenous lifeways, and is connected to Peoples who lived there and facilitated conditions for Time Immemorial.
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Wilderness Character - Wilderness Character Baseline has been established, and annual plans and work timelines are in place to collect and synthesize data needed to monitor wilderness character and wilderness study area conditions. Annual reports and five year trend reports communicating wilderness and wilderness study area conditions and needs in accessible and digestible formats to connect all levels of decision makers to conditions on the ground, impacts to wilderness character, and resulting adaptive management recommendations.
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Connected Management & Stewardship Communication Markets - All stewards and managers are connected through communication and decision making markets. Relationships with Indigenous Peoples from the geographic area are strong, and are consistently consulted on stewardship and management for the area. There is connection between disciplinary silos, and the implementation of processes required for communicating and determining managerial direction across disciplines and hierarchies. When necessary, frameworks are applied to groups of stakeholders, stewards and managers to determine the best path forward. Local and regional relationships are facilitated between and across municipal, state, federal, Tribal, and partner interests.
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Effective Public Interface - Accurate public information is available in highly digestible language(s) in a variety of virtual and physical formats. Visitor services are accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, and provide clear information on access and regulations for the area. There is continual, real-time auditing of all wilderness data and information underpinning public communication, and updating as necessary.
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For the past 20 years, our team of experts has provided the training, tools, and capacity needed to effectively support natural resource managers in achieving this, and thereby ensuring the long-term health of our nation's wildlands.

