This seminar will explore the history, rationale, and appropriateness of the “minimum tool” policy for wilderness management. Participants will learn about the challenges and opportunities of implementing a minimum tool policy in an increasingly technological world.

The objectives of the seminar are to 1) gain a greater understanding of the philosophical, legal, and managerial rationale for the minimum tool policy; 2) discover how management carried out through minimum tool strategy can provide unique training opportunities; and 3)debate the relevance and appropriateness of the minimum tool policy in an increasingly technological world.

In the thirty-five years since the passage of the Wilderness Act, the National Wilderness Preservation System has grown to include more than 105 million acres, managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. These lands are managed primarily for their natural values, but also provide recreational, educational, scientific, and historic values. The management of wilderness differs from other lands in many important respects, but one significant principle of wilderness management is that managers should apply only the minimum tools, equipment, and regulations that are necessary to achieve the desired result. Thus, the “minimum tool” policy suggests that managers forgo the use of certain technological advancements in wilderness to preserve the natural character of the area, and avoid negatively impacting opportunities for solitude.

The minimum tool policy poses many important challenges and opportunities for wilderness managers. For example, significant natural disturbances can alter the landscape to the degree that managers abiding by the minimum tool policy may be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work.

Furthermore, difficult decisions must be made when the natural condition and processes of the wilderness ecosystem are jeopardized, and require immediate and widespread management actions that may not be achievable through minimum tool efforts. However, these challenges also provide opportunities to coordinate management efforts across typical boundaries, and stimulate discussion about key issues affecting a wide array of resource management professionals.