United States Forest Service and Ecosystem Management oral history interviews

United States Forest Service and Ecosystem Management oral history interviews, 1997-1998

Overview of the Collection

Title: United States Forest Service and Ecosystem Management oral history interviews
Dates: 1997-1998 (inclusive)
19971998
Quantity: 7 interviews
Collection Number: Oh 370
Summary: The seven interviewees discuss the U.S. Forest Service shift to ecosystem management from the perspectives of politics, legislation, and implementation. The interviews were recorded by Rick Freeman from 1997-1998 for his dissertation at The University of Montana-Missoula.
Repository: University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions: Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.
Languages: English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Rick Freeman conducted oral history interviews while a student at The University of Montana-Missoula. In 1998 he submitted his dissertation, entitled The U.S. Forest Service and the Political Construction of Ecosystem Management, in the School of Forestry.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The seven interviewees, recorded for his dissertation at The University of Montana-Missoula by interviewer Rick Freeman from 1997-1998, discuss the U.S. Forest Service shift to Ecosystem management from the perspectives of politics, legislation, and implementation.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright transferred to The University of Montana-Missoula.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], United States Forest Service and Ecosystem Management Interviews, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Custodial History

Rick Freeman held the interviews prior to donation.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Rick Freeman, date unknown.

Bibliography

Dissertation by Rick Freeman titled The U.S. Forest Service and the Political Construction of Ecosystem Management 1998

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Description	Dates
OH 370-01: Interview with Hal Salwasser Audio cassette Transcript, 13 leaves Hal Salwasser discusses the evolution of the Ecosystem Management policy of the 1990s, particularly in respect to how it differs from the New Perspectives policy. He mentions Jim Caplan and Dale Robertson. Salwasser describes the role of the Bush (I) Administration’s role in the policy-making process. Salwasser was program director for the New Perspectives Program, USFS, Washington Office.	18 May 1997
OH 370-02: Interview with Jerry F. Franklin Audio cassette Transcript, 6 leaves Jerry F. Franklin elaborates on Ecosystem Management and its actual nature as an adaptive management policy. He references articles published in professional forestry journals and reflects on the development of his personal philosophy regarding land and resource management. Franklin was a member of Scientific Panel on Late-Successional Forest Ecosystems (1991), a member of Interagency Science Committee (1989), and author of “New Forestry” silviculture theory.	25 June 1997
OH 370-03: Interview with George Leonard Audio cassette Transcript, 5 leaves George Leonard reflects on his role in the formation of the New Perspectives policy in the early 1990s. He discusses a few pieces of key legislation that sparked the move towards New Perspectives and the impetus for new policy-making provided by the burgeoning timber sale program and consequent opposition. Leonard finishes with a few promising leads for further research on the history of Ecosystem Management. Leonard was deputy Chief of USFS at time of Ecosystem Management policy adoption.	25 June 1997
OH 370-04: Interview with Dale Robertson Audio cassette Transcript, 13 leaves Dale Robertson explains his role in the formation of the New Perspectives policy, particularly Jerry Franklin’s influence on his decisions. He discusses the controversy in Washington over the new policy, stemming largely from the fact that the decision to implement was made, according to Robertson, less out of scientific research than political pressure. He mentions Bill Riley, Clayton Yeutter and Hal Salwasser.	25 June 1997
OH 370-05: Interview with Steven Lewis Yaffee Audio cassette Transcript, 16 leaves Steven Lewis Yaffee discusses internal discussions in the USFS at the time of Ecosystem Management’s implementation. He explains the “scientific base” for the decision and how that scientific knowledge was managed. He alludes to the difficulties of moving policy through the hierarchy of the Forest Service, shifting in this way into some history of the agency. He mentions key legislation including NEMA, NFMA, and FORPLAN. Yaffee was USFS Forest Service Chief during Spotted Owl Controversy.	23 February 1998
OH 370-06: Interview with John Gordon Audio cassette Transcript, 11 leaves John Gordon describes the political processes behind Ecosystem Management’s implementation. He explains the interests of the so-called “Gang of Four” and specialized interests of other agencies and researchers. He offers his opinion on the relationship between Ecosystem Management and the Endangered Species Act. Gordon was a member of the Scientific Panel on Late-Successional Forest Ecosystems (1991) and at the time of the interview, he was Dean of Yale’s School Forestry.	8 April 1998
OH 370-07: Interview with Jack Ward Thomas Audio cassette Transcript, 8 leaves Jack Ward Thomas discusses his role in FEMAT during the policy-changing phase. He covers the difficulties in balancing interests and agencies in depth. Thomas was Director, USFS, La Grande Research Station during northern spotted owl Scientific Panel on Late-Successional Forest Ecosystems (1991); Leader of Interagency Science Committee (1989), USFS in conjunction with US Fish and Wildlife Service and BLM; member of Scientific Panel on Late-Successional Forest Ecosystems (1991), and convened by “Gang of Four” (House Agriculture Committee and House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee)	29 September 1998

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Ecosystem management --Government policy--United States
Forest management--United States
Forest policy--United States
Northern spotted owl--Effect of forest management on--United States

Personal Names

Caplan, Jim
Franklin, Jerry F., interviewee (interviewee)
Gordon, J. C. (John C.), 1939-, interviewee (interviewee)
Johnson, K. Norman
Leonard, George M., 1933-, interviewee (interviewee)
Riley, Bill
Robertson, F. Dale, interviewee (interviewee)
Salwassser, Hal, interviewee (interviewee)
Thomas, Jack Ward, interviewee (interviewee)
Yaffee, Steven Lewis, interviewee (interviewee)
Yeutter, Clayton K., 1930-

Corporate Names

United States--Forest Service--Officials and employees--Interviews
Forest Ecosystem Management Assessment Team (U.S.)
United States--Endangered Species Act of 1973
United States--Forest Service

Other Creators

Personal Names
- Freeman, R. R. (Richard R.), interviewer (interviewer)

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