This collection contains interviews detailing forest issues such as ecosystem management policy especially as it relates to the spotted owl controversy. The interviews were conducted in 1997 and 1998 by Rick Freeman. The interviewees discuss land use and resource management, the history of ecosystem management and the role of political pressure on policy development. The original interviews are held as Oral History collection OH 370 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
This collection includes 7 interviews.
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Dale Robertson Interview, June 25, 1997
Dale Robertson
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, ... Read More
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George Leonard Interview, June 25, 1997
George Leonard
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 ... Read More
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Hal Salwasser Interview, May 18, 1997
Hal Salwasser
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 George H. Bush administration’s role in the ... Read More
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Jack Ward Thomas Interview, September 29, 1998
Jack Ward Thomas
Jack Ward Thomas discusses his role in FEMAT (Forest Ecosystem Management Team) during the policy-changing phase. He covers the difficulties in balancing interests and agencies in depth. The audio for this interview is inaudible.
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Jerry Franklin Interview, June 24, 1997
Jerry Franklin
Jerry 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. The interview includes an index of key terms ... Read More
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John Gordon Interview, April 8, 1998
John Gordon
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. Archives and ... Read More
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Stephen Yaffee Interview, February 23, 1998
Stephen Yaffee
Stephen Yaffee discusses internal discussions in the U.S. Forest Service 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 ... Read More