The goal of former Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth’s 10-Year Wilderness Stewardship Challenge is that within 10 years, every Forest Service unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System will meet at least 6 of 10 stewardship elements. Currently, only 18 percent of the FS Wilderness units meet this minimum standard. Following are the elements of the Challenge.

1. Wilderness is covered by a fire plan that allows for the full range of management responses.
2. Wilderness is successfully treated for noxious/invasive plants.
3. Air quality monitoring is conducted and baseline is established.
4. Wilderness education plans are implemented.
5. Wilderness has adequate standards, in which monitored conditions are within forest plan standards, and opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation are stable or increasing.
6. Wilderness has completed recreation site inventory.
7. Outfitter and guide permit operating plans are in place to direct outfitters to model appropriate Wilderness practices and incorporate appreciation for Wilderness values in their interaction with clients.
8. Wilderness has a full-range of adequate standards which prevent degradation of the Wilderness resource.
9. Wilderness managers have their priority information needs addressed through data collection and corporate applications.
10. Wilderness has a baseline workforce in place for each Wilderness Area.