Forests for the People: The Story of America’s Eastern National Forests

At the turn of the twentieth century, widespread clearcutting resulted in ecological ruin and devastating fires in America’s Eastern forests. A coalition of citizens, organizations, and business and political leaders fought against this pattern, and in 1911, they achieved a landmark victory with the Weeks Act, which protected millions of acres of Eastern forests. Forests for the People tells the fascinating story of this vital legislation and the citizens and organizations that made it a reality.

While these protected forests survive today, many of the critical issues facing American forests in the twentieth century persist, and new threats have arisen-including oil shale drilling, invasive species, and development around national parks. In Forests for the People, Christopher Johnson and David Govatski draw upon the lessons and victories of the past to examine the vital issues facing American forests today and illuminate paths to better forest management.