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Communities and Forests: Where People Meet the Land

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It used to be that forests were the concerns of government and big business. But it has become impossible to separate forests from we the people of the United States. For there are people whose well-being depends upon being able to visit forests. That's one of the big ways the Forest Service makes money. It's not just about keeping the forests safe for the trees. It's not just about keeping endangered species and wildlife safe. It's also about keeping forests picturesque for people who want to see all our beautiful native and naturally diverse heritage among the trees. There are others who live in forests. Over the past 15-20 years, people have been moving into what Virginia Tech advanced master gardening calls the urban-wildland interface. That means they live among trees, whether that be along city outskirts, in countryside woodlands or close to our forests and parks. Finally, there are still others who make their living from forests. It's not just big business. It's ordinary taxpayers who make their small-scale livings as loggers, mushroom and berry gatherers, and brush pickers.

Editors Robert G Lee and Donald R Field say this has had a definite impact. The impact of COMMUNITIES AND FORESTS can be clearly seen WHERE PEOPLE MEET THE LAND. Forests have changed. We've changed the way we look at forests. And hopefully so will forest science and forest management. Forests can't be managed without people values coming into the picture. They're not just sources of wood and wood products. They're settings for home, play and work. For example, the forests of our upper lake states are known as beautiful, tree-filled wildlife settings for people to visit and for retirees and seasonal residents to build homes. Recreation and residence needs are as important as resource demands. Seeing just like big business and government won't build up local communities. Instead, it'll be taking into account community well-being, forest conservation and forest product sales.

For the best decisions about forests should come from the pooled opinions of forest workers, forest residents, forest product customers, forest managers, and forest lovers. But is it possible and practical for government and big business to co-operate with people and workers? The Canadian government thinks so. It's trying shared decision-making of the country's forests with communities whose livelihood and well-being depend on trees. The US government doesn't copycat. So it's sponsoring the National Community Forestry Center. That Center helps community forestry efforts of organizations outside the government.

The book is well-organized. There's a good index. The contributing witers have filled their chapters with supportive examples and complete references. Realistic solutions are as well covered as the problems. In some places, the wording is a bit academic. But the overall message sounds clear throughout.