Credit:  USFWS/Robert Peyton

Deputy Refuge Manager Bob Peyton represented Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and presented a paper at the eighth World Wilderness Congress, Anchorage, Alaska, September 30 through October 6.  From South Africa to the Arctic, over a thousand participants from 60 nations met to discuss, evaluate, network and support various wilderness issues.  It was an extremely eye-opening and meaningful experience.  Topics included everything from science stewardship, best management practices, native and international land issues, climate change and biodiversity.  Many of the discussions hit close to home, such as drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. 

U.S. agencies met prior to the official opening day of the congress to discuss national issues.  A topic of concern was the draft wilderness policy for the Fish and Wildlife Service.  Agencies attending this pre-Congress session were treated to an Alaskan Railroad train ride from Anchorage to Seward.  What better way to emphasize the importance of wilderness than to hold the congress in one of the most spectacular places on earth, Alaska.

Moosehorn refuge was represented with a presentation on its 7,460 acres of designated wilderness located in Washington County, Maine.  Designated as a Class 1 Air Quality Wilderness Area, Moosehorn must deal with not only local paper pulp refineries but international issues just across the Canadian boarder.  Fire was also a heated topic generating questions from several international participants.  Finally, access to wilderness areas and public use impacts was a topic of concern for not only Moosehorn refuge but for participants from the rest of the world.