ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND NORTH GEORGIA WILDERNESS

This study examines the geographic access of census§block groups (CBGs) to the use and non-use values of§wilderness areas in North Georgia to determine§socioeconomic inequalities between populations in§context of the Eastern Wilderness Act. Wilderness use§and socioeconomic status are analyzed using GIS based§network analysis to determine travel time from the§CBG centroid to the nearest wilderness area trail§access point. Wilderness non-use values and§socioeconomic status are analyzed using straight-line§distance from the CBG centroid to the wilderness area§centroid. Overall, results show that environmental§inequity with respect to wilderness use-and non-use§values may exist when race, gender, and retirement§income are considered. Discussion explores the§possibility that the location of vacation homes near§wilderness may increase property values and taxes and§may adversely affect low-income populations.§Implications include the need to manage for an§increasing elderly population, the further§involvement of elderly and low-income population in§the public process of wilderness management, and the§need for similar research in areas beyond southern§Appalachia.