Land which is unsettled, uncultivated, and left largely alone is often referred to as “wilderness.” Many people place spiritual, economic, or scientific value on wilderness, and many nations have engaged in campaigns to keep part of their landscapes natural. The exact nature of wilderness is a topic for debate, even among scientists, and this debate is often complicated by the romanticization of wilderness in many cultures.

The word is derived from the Old English word for wild or savage, and it dates to around the 1200s. Many people conceive of wilderness as untamed, wild territory; primeval forests, for example, are thought of as wilderness. Others think of wilderness as a desolate wasteland, like the desert. The truth probably lies somewhere in between; wilderness is certainly far from desolate, as it hosts many plant and animal species, along with complex ecologies and interactions.

In fact, many supposed wilderness areas were actually shaped by thousands of years of human and animal existence. Many forests, for example, have paths and trails established by native animals, but they may also have clearings which were created by early humans, or plants which were imported by various species to satisfy dietary needs. Far from being uncultivated, the wilderness is actually heavily managed by the animals which call it home, although it may not be cultivated in the traditional human sense.

Wilderness is not also uninhabited, although it is usual to find permanent human settlements in modern wilderness. Many animals share the space with each other, and the wilderness is alive with birds, fish, reptiles, mammals, and unicellular organisms. Many of these animals have complex social structures and interspecies relations may also be very rather complicated. The wilderness is, in a way, a huge society, rivaling human cities in terms of organization and structure.

Humans have created a romantic image of the wilderness based on solitude and contemplation. Many humans seek out the wilderness because they feel like it brings them closer to nature. Others are intrigued by the interactions of the animals which live there, or they are captivated by mythology which features the wilderness. Many myths, for example, speak of being lost in a metaphorical wilderness, and the wilderness is often associated with the unknown.

In the 20th century, many humans began to recognize a need for preserving natural spaces and locations which had experienced minimal human intervention. Numerous wilderness preservation societies arose, and the trend of creating parks and reserves became more widespread. The hope is that humans will be able to retain the wilderness for the enjoyment of future generations.