Since its inception in 1894, Article XIV of the New York State Constitution has served as a baseline for environmental protection of the New York Forest Preserve. Yet today it has become apparent to those who study or simply enjoy the Adirondack and Catskill regions that our goal in preservation is much more. We preserve wilderness so we can hold on to a piece of the past, a piece of America’s history. That said the issue is what constitutes wilderness – a legally designated wilderness area, wilderness as a common term or land that embraces the “Forever Wild” aesthetic. This paper addresses the apparent human influence in the Adirondacks through a thorough analysis of the Forest Preserve and the efficacy of Article XIV. The paper concludes by examining probable consequences should Article XIV be altered.
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