43 CFR § 6302.15 - When and how may I collect or disturb natural resources such as rocks and plants in wilderness areas?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s6302.15"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 6302.15 - When and how may I collect or disturb natural resources such as rocks and plants in wilderness areas?"
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "6302.15"
section_name: "When and how may I collect or disturb natural resources such as rocks and plants in wilderness areas?"
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
subchapter_number: "F"
subchapter_name: "PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION (6000)"
part_number: "6300"
part_name: "MANAGEMENT OF DESIGNATED WILDERNESS AREAS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "16 U.S.C. 1131  43 U.S.C. 1733, 1740, 1782."
regulatory_source: "65 FR 78372, Dec. 14, 2000, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "6300"
---


# 6302.15 When and how may I collect or disturb natural resources such as rocks and plants in wilderness areas?

(a) You may remove or disturb natural resources for non-commercial purposes in wilderness areas, including prospecting, provided—

(1) You do it in a manner that preserves the wilderness environment, using no more than non-motorized hand tools and causing minimal surface disturbance; and

(2)(i) Your proposed activity conforms to the applicable management plan; or

(ii) You have a BLM authorization if one is required by statute or regulation.

(b) Where BLM allows campfires in a wilderness, you may gather a reasonable amount of wood for use in your campfire.