Abstract: The Adirondack Forest Preserve in New York State is regarded as a paradigm of “pristine wilderness”.The untamed forest is a result of the “Forever Wild” policy with stringent restrictions.The establishment of forest preserves and the formation of “Forever Wild” policy are primarily driven by city dwellers' needs for water supply and recreation.The “lock-up” preservation is of great significance in preserving wild nature,but it also leaves behind a troubling legacy:It negates the usage mode of traditional public forests among local communities,prohibits the consumptive utilization of forests,and reveals some aspect of environmental injustice;It oversimplifies the functions and value of nature itself,“rewilding” the nature,and constructing an apparent contradiction between human subsistence and preservation.In this sense,city dwellers' needs shape the nature and characteristics of forest preservation in New York State,recreating an “uninhabited wilderness” that caters to urban needs.

Key words: New York State, Adirondack, forest preserves, urban needs, natural resource preservation