Myth 20: Wilderness is in conflict with the protection of endangered species
Myth: Wilderness is in conflict with the protection of endangered species (as these must be intensively managed) (Cronon 1996).
Truth: Wilderness by its large size protects rare and threatened species. It also protects other species from becoming endangered due to human activities. This is due to minimum ‘edge effects’, large biogeographical size, less pressure from weeds and ferals, etc. When there is a threat in wilderness to endangered species, action is taken. Of course many threatened species are located outside wilderness areas, and also need special management actions. However these are separate issues. There is no conflict, and Cronon does not provide any evidence for such conflict. Wilderness is important for protecting biodiversity, and so are special management strategies for threatened species outside wilderness. The two are complementary and not in conflict.