I am Wilderness

Voices and stories from our planet's last truly wild places.

[realiamwilderness]

Where is wilderness?

One way to define wilderness is by accessibility.  This map, created by the World Bank, depicts travel time to major cities across the globe.  It also highlights wilderness and how little of it there is left.  Only 10% of the land surface of the planet still requires 2 or more days of travel time in order to access (depicted as the final 5 color gradients on the right side of the spectrum).  This map was intended to demonstrate human connectivity and the concentration of economic activity, but inadvertently cast a light on how few truly wild places remain on our planet.

[realiamwilderness]

“A murder mystery I saw on TV made me want to visit Belize.  I called a friend and he had a friend who had an outpost on Turneffe Atoll. Some of the more remote islands, you have to prepare yourself for a wilderness experience rather than a resort vacation - it’s very different.  Other parts of the Caribbean have big resorts, and that can be a wonderful experience, but a more remote place like Turneffe Atoll - the reward is surrounding yourself by nature.   It’s two very different experiences.  Some people might not be able to handle the biting flies, no pool accommodations, no bar.  But the coral reef is still intact, marine life is still intact, you're face to face with manatees, and there are attractions like the Blue Hole, which is not a common thing - that you can just swim up to and enjoy.

To some people a wilderness might be a prairie or elk running down the mountain, but Turneffe Atoll to me is definitely wilderness.  The idea of wilderness conjures up different things from one person to the next.  It might be no cell phone reception, trees for miles and miles, or a place where you can go and see other inhabitants other than humans in their natural place. - the word brings a different image into everyone’s head. 

To me the reef in Belize is a wilderness, but to other people it might not.  The ocean comprises most of the planet - certainly parts of that ocean are wilderness?  When you are snorkeling in the Blue Hole, barracuda snarling and reef sharks circling - don’t you feel like you are in the wilderness? Crystal clear waters, an abundance of marine wildlife and large-scale things I’ve never seen before.  And the most turquoise surroundings, it’s pristine.

In the words of Sylvia Earle, 'No Blue, No Green', man.”

- Patrick Blake Business Manager, Ocean Advocate

17°18'09.3"N 87°48'07.6"W

[realiamwilderness]

I am Wilderness is returning with this brand new blog and a new approach to sharing the voices and stories of our planet's last wild places. Please encourage your friends to follow and join the wild conversation. See you soon

[realiamwilderness]

Spotted eagle rays are amongst my favorite fish in the sea. While working as a scientific diver in Florida, I would consider myself lucky to get even a glimpse of these beautiful cousins of the shark. Here in Belize they are very common though - I regularly see at least one nearly every time I snorkel on the outer reefs and seagrass beds. On this day, we were diving along a 90ft wall called The Aquarium, which sits on the western side of Lighthouse Atoll, near the Great Blue Hole. This fearless ray emerged from the depths directly below us and continued to make its way up and over the wall. It felt like an omen of good tidings.

[realiamwilderness]

I am Wilderness

[realiamwilderness]

Humpback whales of Monterey Bay