The Greater Good
The Greater Good is a documentary that chronicles the development of forest preservation in the United States. (USDA Forest Service, 2008). The documentary narrates the evolution of the organization using interviews with respected former employees of the USDA Forest Services and other historians. It begins by analyzing the circumstances that led to the creation of the agency and then reviews some of the significant people and pieces of legislation that influenced the development of forest conservation policies and strategies in the United States. The documentary makes it abundantly obvious that forest protection and conservation tactics are changing in response to the situation at hand. The policy that were in place in the late 18th century may not be relevant in the modern day. Therefore, it is important for both the conservationists and the political class to review the ecological and demographic situations that may call for policy changes in forest management practices.
The Early Years
Hundred years after the establishment of the United states, a few individuals started to reconsider the issue of forest preservation. Private companies and individuals were competing for the best land to establish their homes and businesses. Clifford Pinchot emerged as the firsts American to introduce the concept of forest conservation in the United States. The support he got from his parent and the education he received in Europe enabled him to set up a formal Bureau of Forest Conservation. He was instrumental in the enactment of Forest Reserve Act of 1891 that gave the president the powers to set aside some land for forest preservation. Pinchot used diverse tactics such as courts, political lobbying, and the media to ensure that the whole country appreciates the need to protect natural forests land. His effort saw the passing of critical laws such as the Organic Act of 1897 that defined purpose of forests, and the Transfer Act of 1905 that shifted the forest agency from the Department of Interior to the Department of Agriculture.
The Concept of Wilderness
The documentary explains that Pinchot believed in the greatest good for the greatest number of people in terms of forest conservation while John Muir advocated for preservation of the wilderness. The divergent views of the two people saw the role of the USDA Forest Services conflict with the of the park services that called for preservation of wildness for natural use. The documentary also expounds on the role of Aldo Leopold in shaping the forest service. He was more inclined in defining wilderness as un-spoilt habitat for wildlife. However, this view evolved as the country went through the great depression of the 1930s. President Franklin Roosevelt took advantage of the widespread unemployment to establish conservation camps that helped manage the national forests.
2nd World War and After
Wood was an important resource during the Second World War and the Forest Service made it clear to the public on the need to protect the natural resources. Prior to the war, it had become clear that fires were major threat to the forest covers. Bob Marshall had done a good job in establishing a network of forest firefighters that included fire-chasers, fire-jumpers, and later, the icon Smokey bear. During the war, there were attempts by the Japanese to burn the US forests using balloons but the plan did not succeed.
After the war, there was a sudden upsurge in the need for wood to build new houses. The population of the country had increased courtesy of the "baby boom" and millions of houses were constructed by wood harvested from the national forests. It was in the 1960s that the concept of "forest management" came up with an aim of making effective use of the natural resources. It became inevitable to engage in clear cutting as a way to provide wood and allow for forest regeneration.
Modern Approach
However, the increased encroachment on the national forests revived the spirit of preservationists and resulted in the enactment of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The act resonated the views of john Muir on setting up areas that must be protected from human interference. The 1970s saw the introduction of more legislations that defined the role of USDA Forest Service. The advancement in science and technology has seen new ways of managing forests using trained specialists in various fields. Today, views on forest fires have changed as experts have discovered benefits of the same to the environment. It is expected that the ecological dynamics will call for more changes in the strategies used by the forest agency.
References
USDA Forest Service (2008). The Greater Good. Retrieved from http://www.forestryvideos.net/videos/greatestgood/
