Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
ecological balance of a region (P.Valentine 1980). Therefore, the experiential criterion
for wilderness remains substantially different from ecological criterion and the concept of
'wilderness experience' must be separated from that of 'wilderness area'. As Lesslie and
Taylor (1983:14) observed, there has been an 'almost universal tendency to confuse the
benefits derived from wilderness with the nature of wilderness itself, a point of crucial
importance in the delineation, inventory and management of wilderness. Hence,
Table 7.5:
Australian wilderness inventories
Study and
area
Definitions
of
wilderness
Dimensional
criteria
Status of coastal
areas
Status of
roadworks
Database
Helman et
al. 1976:
Eastern New
South Wales
and south-
east
Queensland
Large area
of land
perceived to
be natural,
where
genetic
diversity and
natural
cycles
remain
essentially
unaltered.
A minimum
core area of
25,000 ha; a
core area free
of major
indentations; a
core area of at
least 10 km in
width; and a
management
(buffer) zone
surrounding the
core of about
25,000 ha or
more.
Coastal areas
were not required
to meet the
dimensional
criteria as rigidly
as inland areas,
due to their linear
characteristics
and the type of
ecosystems and
recreation they
support.
If roads do not
seriously impair
the user's
perception of the
wilderness or the
natural
functioning of the
ecosystem and use
can be controlled
by management,
their presence to a
limited degree
should not
preclude
wilderness status.
Landsat images in
conjunction with
DNM 1:250,000
maps; aerial
reconnaissance to
check results,
Stanton and
Morgan
1977:
Queensland
An
extensive
pristine area
with
extremely
limited
access.
Size based on a
core area
defined as a
day's walk
from any access
point; a
minimum
wilderness area
(with no core)
of about 40,000
ha.
No specific
criteria.
Roadworks are
incompatible with
the strict
definition of
wilderness.
Aerial
photographs at
approximately
1:84,000;
1:1,000,000 maps,
Feller et al.
1979:
Victoria
As for
Helman et
al.
As for Helman
et al., with
special criteria
for semi-arid
and mountain
wilderness, a
minimum area
of about
150,000 ha for
semi-arid
wilderness and
50,000 ha for
Minimum area as
close as possible
to 50,000 ha; it
may be smaller if
the core area is
free of major
indentations;
there is a buffer
on the landward
side of the core
and there is a
reasonable length
All two-wheel
drive roads and
substantial four-
wheel drive tracks
were excluded
from the core;
substantial tracks
were included
only if they were
dead-end and not
often used; sealed
and gravel roads
DNM 1:100,000
maps, aerial
photographs at
1:20,000 to
1:50,000;
additional
information from
Forests
Commission,
National Parks
Service and Land
Conservation
