Drawing Lines in the Forest: Creating Wilderness Areas in the Pacific Northwest

by Kevin R. Marsh

Book Overview

Drawing boundaries around wilderness areas often serves a double purpose: protection of the land within the boundary and release of the land outside the boundary to resource extraction and other development. In Drawing Lines in the Forest, Kevin R. Marsh discusses the roles played by various groups--the Forest Service, the timber industry, recreationists, and environmentalists--in arriving at these boundaries. He shows that pragmatic, rather...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295990112
• ISBN13: 9780295990118
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: University of Washington Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Saving wilderness, one valley at a time

Like no other book, "Drawing Lines in the Forest" gets down to detail on how wilderness areas came to be protected, focusing on five case histories in Oregon and Washington. I saw some of these events myself, first as a student in Oregon in the 1950s, later as a federal land management official in Washington DC. Professor Marsh digs deep into archival sources to tell us how dedicated citizens managed to save wild forested valleys that had been slated for logging. They had to overcome bureaucratic opposition from the US Forest Service, reach compromises with the timber industry, and persuade the US Congress to act. You will read about their frustrations, their wit, and their perseverance. Right now, people all over the country are following in their footsteps with a new round of wilderness proposals. I highly recommend this book to the next generation of wilderness defenders and everyone who loves wild land.