Smithsonian - Perishable Pundit

I[3 6]page book, which could fit in the rangers shirtpocket. By contrast, todays Forest Service manualstillmany bookshelves and computer disks.In the early days, forest rangers and thenfamilies lived in isolated places. They wentwhere they were assigned, often on shortnotice. Their wives cooked, kept watch infirelookout towers, and took care of any visitorswho showed up at the doorstep (the ranger'shouse was usually the last one at the end of avery long road). Families learned to be selfsufficient,manage without electricity, and enjo)the adventure of living close to the land. Manychildren grew up believing this way of life wasthe norm, and learned to love and appreciate theoutdoors. The forest ranger by necessity becamepart of the community where he lived. Theranger developed working relationships withthe local ranchers, loggers, hunters, and fishermen.He was responsible for enforcing rules,issuing permits, and maintaining boundaries.The roles played by these early forest rangersforeshadowed the organizational culture andstructure of the agency we see today. In the 2 1stcentury, regional foresters, forest supervisors, anddistrict rangers are vences of authority in localcommunities, and are supported by a diverseworkforce ot men and women that includeswildlife biologists, fishery biologists, hydrologists,mineral experts, engineers, researchers, ecologies,forest planners, computer programmers,entomologists, firefighters, and other specialistsFORESTRY—GROWING TREESUnlike some other natural resources that areused once and then lost, forests are entitiesthat live and breathe, and can be renewed.Forest ecosystems can be maintained throughgood management, making the best use ofscientific research, such as ensuring naturalregeneration or planting seedlings to replacethe trees that have burned or have been cut.Professionalforesters use mam tools inmaintaining forest health. For example, theytake core samples and count annual ringsto help them understand how old a tree is,and to get a glimpse of the tree's life cycle.Foresters study how crowded trees are. howmuch undergrowth is present, and what kindof wildlife is dependent on the local habitat. AsSaul Irvin.a ranger with the florida DivisionotForestry, explains, "We plant trees, we marktrees, we control burn [intentionally settinga fire for prescribed purposes], we do everythingit takes to keep the forest growing."After a fire in 1936 in Montana's Lolo NationalForest, workers re-planted Ponderosa Pinetrees in an effort to rehabilitate the forest.CONTROLLING FIRESAt the beginning of the 20th century, manyprofessional foresters were trained 111 Europe,winch did not prepare them for the monumentaltiresthat used to sweep the NorthAmerican continent. Early settlers tendedto let large fires burn to clear the land forgrazing, but. as populations increased, peoplestarted looking at the threat of fire in adifferent way, and the control of tires becameamajor part of the Forest Service's work.After a million-acre tire in Washingtonand Oregon claimed 38 lives 111 1902. theForest Service became more systematic mits approach. It stationed people in lookouttowers, hired firefighters, and after World War Ihired Army pilots to spot firesfrom the air.he Civilian Conservation Corps was enlistedSMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL