Tending Fire: Coping With America's Wildland Fires

by Stephen J. Pyne

The most difficult questions of sustainability are not about technology; they are about values. Answers to such questions cannot be found by asking the "experts," but can only be resolved in the political arena. In The Local Politics of Global Sustainability , author Thomas Prugh, with Robert Costanza and Herman Daly, two ofthe leading thinkers in the field of ecological economics, explore the kind of politics that can help enable us to achieve a sustainable world of our choice, rather than one imposed by external forces.The authors begin by considering the biophysical and economic dimensions of the environmental crisis, and tracing the crisis in political discourse and our public lives to its roots. They then offer an in-depth examination of the elements of a re-energized political system that could lead to the development of more sustainable communities. Based on a type of self-governance that political scientist Benjamin Barber calls "strong democracy," the politics is one of engagement rather than consignment, empowering citizens by directly involving them in community decisionmaking. After describing how it should work, the authors provide examples of communities that are experimenting with various features of strong democratic systems. The Local Politics of Global Sustainability explains in engaging, accessible prose the crucial biophysical, economic, and social issues involved with achieving sustainability. It offers a readable exploration of the political implications of ecological economics and will be an essential work for anyone involved in that field, as well as for students and scholars in environmental politics and policy, and anyone concerned with the theory and practical applications of the concept of sustainable development.

Genres: Science

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 16, 2004

Reviews

[Judd Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Tending Fire' is among Pyne's best; a distilled, incisive take on fire in America and just what ought to be done about it. While his other tomes can be rather comprehensive and focused on descriptive history rather than offering prescriptions for management and change, in Tending Fire, Pyne takes on a much more pragmatic question in a more concise venue: what ought America do about its fire problem?

There's insight after insight in this volume. I particularly like the way that Pyne dances through the different narratives that are often told about fire in America, complicating them in a layered way that adds nuance and specificity. The volume is also highly useful for some of its clear summaries of the evolution of fire governance and policy in America, which would be eminently readable and valuable to student and practitioner audiences.

There are points that feel a little dated. For a book written in 2004, the idea that we could well get the 'intermix' fire problem under control in 5-10 years is amusing to look back upon, as we face more and more catastrophic fires with little action taken in the intervening years. But, in some ways, this is a benefit: it's precisely because Pyne has put himself out there and taken these normative and courageous stances that the book is so interesting and valuable, and such a nice complement to his more historically grounded work.

Overall, this would be among the Pyne books that I would offer to casual readers of fire. For the total non-fire enthusiast, something like 'Fire: Nature and Culture' might be a lighter starting point. But, for many practitioners and casual observers, 'Tending Fire' will hit the right mark between accessibility and meatiness. I'd only wish for a newer volume with a contemporary forward, contextualizing what went right and wrong in the analysis of 16 years ago.

[Tattered Cover Book Store]

This book was recomended by author and historian Char Miller as part of the Rocky Mountain Land Library's "A Reading List For the President Elect: A Western Primer for the Next Administration."