The article recognizes the Indigenous peoples who stewarded this land for millennia and credits Aldo Leopold, a Forest Service employee, for advocating for its wilderness designation. Today, the Gila Wilderness encompasses over 559,000 acres, complemented by the adjacent Aldo Leopold Wilderness.
While the Gila set the stage for future wilderness designations, the official Wilderness Act wasn't established until 1964.
Secretary Vilsack emphasized the ongoing importance of preserving wild places like the Gila Wilderness for future generations. The USDA and Forest Service remain committed to protecting this remarkable landscape.