Razing the Wilderness

Cumberland Island managers have approved the regular clearing and razing of vegetation alongside roads and trails in the wilderness. Many reptiles and other animals are killed during the razing of the wilderness edges, and the noisy, destructive clearing certainly does not protect the solitude, scenery, and serenity of the wilderness experience for hikers. The National Park Service argues that the denuding of the vegetation along roads and trails is necessary for fire prevention, but in the wilderness, such measures are both illegal and illogical.