A Plea to Governor Andrew Cuomo

A common argument made to put land under the protection of “wilderness” is to keep it in its virgin state, so that pieces of America can remain natural forever. The idea of pure wilderness anywhere in this country, however, is totally flawed. In 1995 Bill Cronon first argued for the re-thinking of “wilderness.” Central to his argument is the artificial juxtaposition of humans and nature that wilderness creates. Because protected land is defined by its absence of people, there is a sense in populated areas that nature can’t exist. The “trouble with wilderness,” is thus that we are no longer able to see the tree in our backyard as being as natural as a tree in the “wilderness.”  

Wilderness can give us an escape from our history and it can allow us to assuage our guilt in the demolition of the natural world around us. A truly forward thinking environmentalist is one that can bring nature and urbanization together. But this isn’t asking you, Governor Cuomo and servant of the people of New York, to single handedly remedy this country’s most enduring environmental hurdle. It’s asking you to do what you can.

Because although wilderness areas are not the solution to our country’s environmental ills, nevertheless they can and do help us out. In fact, if we hope for New York to be an example for the rest of this nation, or if you’re recent commitment to invest $150 million of taxpayer dollars in renewable energy indicates your understanding of America’s environmental perils, then wilderness areas are KEY.

            Don’t save this land because its among the most beautiful in the state, or because it’s the last frontier of nature. Save this land because it’s the right thing to do. So it can house animals, trees, and greater biodiversity. So its trees can absorb more carbon dioxide, and their roots can better prevent erosion and keep our water clean. Do it for the precedent: that not all governments have a price tag. But most importantly, do it so the children of New York grow up in a state they’re proud to call wild.