Toward a Natural Forest: The Forest Service in Transition

by Jim Furnish, Char Miller (Foreword)

Jim Furnish joined the U.S. Forest Service in 1965, enthusiastic and naive, proud to be part of such a storied and accomplished agency. Nothing could have prepared him for the crisis that would soon rock the agency to its foundation, as a burgeoning environmental movement challenged the Forest Service’s legacy and legitimacy.

The Forest Service stumbled in responding to a wave of lawsuits from environmental groups in the late 20th Century—a phenomenon best symbolized by the spotted owl controversy that shut down logging on public forests in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s. The agency was brought to its knees, pitted between a powerful timber industry that had been having its way with the national forests for decades, and organized environmentalists who believed public lands had been abused and deserved better stewardship.

Toward a Natural Forest offers an insider’s view of this tumultuous time in the history of the Forest Service, presenting twin tales of transformation, both within the agency and within the author’s evolving environmental consciousness. While stewarding our national forests with the best of intentions, had the Forest Service diminished their natural essence and ecological values? How could one man confront the crisis while remaining loyal to his employer?

In this revealing memoir, Furnish addresses the fundamental human drive to gain sustenance from and protect the Earth, believing that we need not destroy it in the process. Drawing on the author’s personal experience and his broad professional knowledge, Toward a Natural Forest illuminates the potential of the Forest Service to provide strong leadership in global conservation efforts. Those interested in our public lands—environmentalists, natural resource professionals, academics, and historians—will find Jim Furnish’s story deeply informed, thought-provoking, and ultimately inspiring.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction, Environment

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Steven Howes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a ring-side seat to many of the events described by the author as my own 35-year Forest Service career overlapped with his. I served in the Pacific Northwest Region and worked with many of the people he talks about, some in not very glowing terms. This book, in my opinion does a pretty good job of describing the evolution of the modern US Forest Service from its beginnings in 1905 until the present. The reader will come away with an understanding of the role of politics in the management of our National Forests and other lands managed by the federal government.

I just want to make clear to potential readers that the Siuslaw National Forest is not the only one where progressive management has been implemented and proven effective. The Siuslaw was fortunate in that they had a leader who supported their efforts and went bat for them. Each National Forest is a unique area with its own set of issues. There have been many forward thinkers who have tried to do the right thing; but who were sometimes punished for their efforts.

There has been a great deal of discussion lately about turning some or all of federally-managed lands in the West over to the States or to the private sector. I hope after reading this book, people will consider benefits such as watershed protection, carbon sequestration, and other ecosystem services when making important decisions in the future.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, which I’d pick up from time to time when my work days were winding down. Fascinating history and tales from when I was just joining the agency. I know Jim and he gave me this copy. I admire his land ethic, his fight for values. His description of the political swing and leadership personalities were fun to read. The hall of Chiefs looks a little different to me after reading this.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having gained my early chops in forest protection advocacy working to pass the roadless rule by generating tens of thousands of letters and turning out hundreds of people to public hearings to advocate for the rule that ultimately was one of the crowning achievements of the modern environmental movement, it was a pleasure to read an insider's perspective from one of the rules architects.

Toward a Natural Forest is a memoir that follows the slow enlightenment of a US Forest Service employee who starts as a tool of the timber industry blindly following the dogma of timber first, environment later dogma and finished his career run out by an agency in crisis with the new ethic of wilderness, wildlife and ecosystems that he discovered along the way.

It is sad that things have not changed faster and I think that is ultimately the truth that Furnish discovered. It is clearly painful for him and that comes through loud and clear through his writing. I may not agree with all of his conclusions, but I am glad to know that one can evolve in such a way to a position that provides promise for a more hopeful future.

This book will be interest to anyone that has worked on national forest or public land issues, wants to understand the mentality that governs bureaucracy, or readers that like memoirs that uncover change from conservative values to a more open view of the world. It may also be of interest to those that are simply excited by the deeper values of nature.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a Forest Service employee, I thought the book portrayed a good depth of what was happening at the time in the political world and also what the author felt and tried to work toward. It certainly isn't going to be a page turner for those that don't have history with the agency and I'm sure there are many that would disagree with the author and how things happened. But I think he was clear with where it was his belief system and what the policy's were at the time. Things have changed but shades remain.

[Rich Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Furnish’s excellent book makes its twofold purpose clear early on: he tells an insider's story of how the US Forest Services, “with the best intentions, managed wildness into submission and, perhaps, death” and offers an honest account of his own ethical transformation and efforts to move the Forest Service toward an ethic of careful, and sustainable stewardship. I thoroughly enjoyed the book on many levels—more than a Forest Service insider, Furnish’s career paces him at the center of some of the most important natural/environmental issues of the later 20th century, and he shares his successes and failures within the agency with an unexpected candor and meaningful reflection. His book is one man’s direct encounter with politics, a powerful and entrenched political/bureaucratical agency, and especially his own burgeoning environmental consciousness. “Do we really need two by fours that badly” that we’d sacrifice the future? Furnish asks himself and his readers as we journey with him thorough his 34-year career in the Forest Service, ending in his 2002 departure from his position as the agency’s deputy chief.
In this compelling encounter with history and personal ethics, we are with Furnish during numerous pivotal moments in recent Forest Service history, including the Supreme Court decision on the Spotted Owl controversy, the subsequent 1994 Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP), the 2000 National Forest Management Act, the protection of roadless areas on National Forest lands, the Thirtymile Fire investigation in Colorado, and the resignation of Mike Dombeck as head of USFS. In acquainting us with the facts and politics of these events, and many more, Furnish is forthright about his own naiveté, his own professional failures and successes, and the many moments of decision, and sometimes indecision, that make up a career. Moreover, there’s a poignancy here that all can appreciate as Furnish fights the system, for a heroic cause, and loses. But without any bitterness he offers his insights into the past and his hopeful optimism about a future of ethical and responsible stewardship.
I enjoyed the entire journey with Furnish. Not only did I learn about the intricacies of the many environmental issues addressed but was able to reflect on my own career successes and failures as well as the ways history, prior practice, people, and politics influence its trajectory and my own ethical self.
I highly recommend Toward a Natural Forest. Not only is Furnish a smart, strong-voiced guide through the many events and issues this book covers, but his love of nature shines through his discussions of his career as the guiding love and inspiration behind this study of the past and plea for tomorrow.

[Irene Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading it, but I'm a retired FS employee. I was a few years after where the author began and ended, but I learned so much in my 33 year career and learned even more reading this book. Not sure how anyone outside the agency would enjoy this as much. I appreciate that many were trying to do the right thing, and the right thing was different to different people. I love working with the people of the FS because most were so dedicated and passionate. The bureaucracy can be intense and it seemed like our mission changed with each administration, so it felt like trying to hit a moving target.

[TomFairman · Rating 5 out of 5]

My five star rating comes from being a forester, and reading a memoir of a forester is always going to be something I rate highly. This short, snappy memoir is a fascinating and inspiring read on a tumultuous time in American forestry. I thought it insightful not just for forestry, but also Jim's reflections on leadership. As others may have observed, at times in was light on details - the book could have easily been twice as long, though admittedly that may have diluted its strength. More foresters should write memoirs - their life and times are truly fascinating (to me, anyway)

[Kelsey Breseman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting topic but the book is in desperate need of an editor. Enormous cast of characters clearly intended to acknowledge but not effective for reading. Rambling anecdotes about fishing mixed with plot-critical strategic decisions. Comes off a bit old boys club, and hard to tell what is going to be worth paying attention to.

[Michael LeClair · Rating 4 out of 5]

A revelation of USFS mentality over the years, from custodial to utilitarian to - hopefully, environmental and sustainable policies. Our knowledge has evolved; hopefully our behavior will reflect this hard-won knowledge, soon, before it's too late.

[Foxglow · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest up to date assessment of where the US Forest Service came from, and where it needs to go.

[David Cooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but it definitely suffers from being a memoir because while Furnish lived through memorable events, too often he was at the fringe of them, leaving me wanting more depth to the story and feeling too often like things were incomplete. It also forces a structure that is linear instead of comprehensive. However, the story here lays out well the challenges of resource management and balancing competing interests, and it introduces the concept of ecosystem services, which is a helpful way of shaping how we think about the human benefits of the whole ecosystem beyond resource extraction.

The writing was middle of the road...it was fine. But the material itself was generally compelling, and I did like how he tried to explain the thought process in review as well, acknowledging where mistakes were made or how he no longer thought a particular way. Of the book itself, really the only annoying thing was that it starts off with a Foreword (by someone else), a Preface (that summarizes the book), and a Chapter 1 (which is essentially an introductory chapter introducing the summary points), so it's like the book starts off with three summaries before we get started.

This isn't required reading, but I got a nice picture of how our government tries to deal with competing wildlife interests from someone on the ground, which was an informative and interesting read.