WHAT WENT WRONG?  

Theodore Roosevelt, the president recognized as the founder of our national forests, is reported to have offered the following assessment of the Forest Service mission:

 “And now, first and foremost, you can never afford to forget for one moment what is the objective of our forest policy. That objective is not to preserve the forests because they are beautiful, though that is good in itself; nor because they are refuges for wild creatures for the wilderness, though that, too, is good in itself; but the primary object of our forest policy in the United States, is the making of prosperous homes. Every other consideration comes secondary.”

The big question is what went wrong?  Why has the USFS abandoned the very mission for which they were created?  Clearly preservation, though recognized as loadable, is not the intended mission nor is refuge for wild creature (remember ESA), nor is wilderness.  The objective of the Forest Service is to enhance “prosperity.”  A dictionary definition of the word reflects wealth or a condition of being “well-off or well-to-do”.  Creating wealth from the forest will only happen if it yields products of value, primarily timber and minerals. 

 With the passage of a series of well-intended legislation, this basic of all missions has eroded to a point where production now takes a backseat to preservation.  The urge by forest visitors to view what is referred to as “pristine or majestic,” calls for the Forest Service to stop timber cutting because it is deemed unsightly or aesthetically inappropriate.  The claim holds no validity with respect to forest health, but simply reflects a sense of emotion.

 When will the general public come to realize the forest needs active management in order to survive?  Certainly our forefathers recognized that a managed forest would provide for the citizens in perpetuity.  Letting it topple over due to old age, insect infestation and disease does nothing to promote regeneration, establish wildlife habitat, create pristine scenery or promote prosperity.  The Forest Service needs to come to its senses and get back to their roots.