The years of study and stormy conflict that have accompanied recently successful efforts to put a national wilderness system into law are focused on "The Wilderness Controversy," the third episode in National Educational Television's "Local Issue" series. The Wilderness Act, passed by the Congress on August 21 of 1964, was signed by President Johnson on September 3 1964. The act provides for the rigid preservation of the primitive state of federal forest lands. Under its provisions, grazing, hunting, fishing, and prospecting rights on these lands have been limited. The use of aircrafts and motorboats has been restricted to areas where they are already employed, and automobile travel is prohibited. "The Wilderness Controversy" presents the opposing views of both sides of the conflict. Ranchers, miners, oil and lumber men have fought the bill on the grounds that the economic growth of large regions of the West depend on the mineral, fuel, and grazing potential of these areas. On the other hand, conservationists have argued for the bill's passage on the grounds that these regions would be lost forever if they are not sealed off now. THE WILDERNESS CONTROVERSY: Produced in 1964 for National Educational Television by KNME-TV, Albuquerque. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) In this series several of National Educational Televisions affiliated stations take a close look at controversies in their own areas that may greatly affect the entire nation. Each of the local problems is presented from the points of view of those who have been involved in it, or who have watched its gradual development. The 32 half-hour episodes that comprise this series were originally recorded on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
