The People's Forests by Robert Marshall
"The People's Forests" by Robert Marshall is a significant work that advocates for the preservation of U.S. forests in the face of commercial exploitation. Written in the context of the early 20th century, when the U.S. Forest Service primarily focused on selling forest land for timber use, Marshall presents a compelling argument for the intrinsic value of wilderness. His passion for nature is reflected in his personal experiences and extensive research, which he articulates through a blend of historical narrative and statistical analysis. The book traces the evolution of forest management, highlighting the cultural and ecological importance of untouched landscapes. Following its publication, it garnered considerable public interest, ultimately leading to Marshall's influential role in the U.S. Forest Service as head of the Division of Recreation and Lands. Despite Marshall's untimely death in 1939, many of the principles he championed laid the groundwork for future environmental legislation, including the Wilderness Act of 1964. Overall, "The People's Forests" is a pivotal text that encapsulates the early conservation movement in America and the ongoing dialogue about the balance between preservation and commercial use of natural resources.
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The People's Forests by Robert Marshall
Identification Nonfiction book calling for federal protection for disappearing American forests
Author Robert Marshall
Date Published in 1933
The People’s Forests was one of the first popular books to describe the beauty of forests in the United States and to argue that their recreational value outweighed their commercial value. Its author, U.S. Forest Service employee Robert Marshall, contended that the federal government should purchase and manage forest land before the last remaining bits of true wilderness disappeared forever.
When Marshall, a conservationist and bureaucrat, began working for the U.S. Forest Service, the prevailing attitude at the agency was that forests, beautiful and inspiring though they may be, should be preserved only in places where there was no practical commercial use for them. The Forest Service’s role was to sell or lease forest land to timber companies, and there was little thought of buying and preserving the wilderness for its own sake.
Within the organization, Marshall began arguing that the forests should be preserved. He enjoyed long hikes in the wilderness and believed that all citizens should have the opportunity to be alone in the forest. After writing government documents arguing for preservation, he took his case to the people with a well-written, passionate, and statistics-laden book, The People’s Forests. Step by step, he described the history of the forests, from the first awe-inspiring encounters the Pilgrims had, through the Industrial Revolution and its high demands for wood, to the 1930’s, when few swathes of uncut, “virgin” forest remained.
Impact
The People’s Forests was widely read and discussed. With public support, Marshall was able to exert strong influence when, in 1937, he became head of the newly created Division of Recreation and Lands in the U.S. Forest Service. However, after his death in 1939, the federal government did little to protect the forests until the Wilderness Act of 1964 was passed, using the arguments Marshall had promoted thirty years earlier.
Bibliography
Glover, James M. A Wilderness Original: The Life of Bob Marshall. Seattle: Mountaineers, 1986.
Sutter, Paul. Driven Wild: How the Fight Against Automobiles Launched the Modern Wilderness Movement. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2002.
Wellman, J. Douglas. Wildland Recreation Policy: An Introduction. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1987.