Nothing new here. Areas have been protected in several National Parks, such as Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite to name a few.
I grew up taking camping vacations across the West, in Scouting, etc. My father wanted us to know the great outdoors, for he grew up close to Yellowstone.
When I was stationed in Germany in 1979-1970 I noted how much cleaner the citizens kept their towns, roads, their natural resources.
Upon returning it was the same old USA with empty cans and bottles along our highways, trash every place. We have made much progress, since then.
But remember the group of yahoos, that pushed over a rock in a park in southern Utah a few weeks ago?
I'm going to come down in favor of preserving the wilderness, whenever possible.