National Wilderness Month, 2022

( printed page 54309) Proclamation 10438 of August 31, 2022 National Wilderness Month, 2022 A Proclamation From the peaks of the Sierras to the rolling foothills of the Alleghenies, our Nation's wilderness boasts national treasures that provide opportunities for discovery, wonder, and serenity. They are also the current and ancestral homelands of Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples, many of whom have deep cultural, historic, and spiritual connections to these places. During National Wilderness Month, let us express gratitude for lands and waters that remain in their natural condition, acknowledge the importance of making public lands accessible to all Americans, and rededicate ourselves to conserving and protecting the earth for future generations. When designated wilderness areas are left intact, they defend us against climate change, keep us resilient when natural disasters strike, and create a refuge for biodiversity. Our Nation's forests offset 10 percent of our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions every year. Native grasslands, wetlands, and other healthy soils retain water at faster rates, protecting us against flooding and offering drought relief for surrounding vegetation. Owing to the beauty of these places—and perhaps anticipating their environmental importance—President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the 1964 Wilderness Act and created the National Wilderness Preservation System. In the years since, the Congress has designated over 800 wilderness areas comprising more than 111 million acres of land. Still, America's natural spaces are in danger. Extreme wildfires threaten to destroy our woodlands. Rising tides imperil our coastlines. Runoff from toxic chemicals pollutes our rivers and endangers species. Even if designated wilderness areas appear safe from harm for now, the unpredictable nature of climate change and biodiversity loss looms over our entire Nation. In response, my Administration has set ambitious goals to scale back our GHG emissi…