
A conversation with Forest Service Chief, Randy Moore
Jim Petersen - In this interview, Chief Moore discusses the challenges he faces, including some that will remain challenges long after he retires.
The citizens of our country - those who own our federal forests - paid my salary for 38 years. I feel a moral responsibility to tell them the truth about what today’s wildfires are doing in the West’s national forests, especially the Salmon-Challis, where I completed my Forest Service career.
Lynn Bennett, U.S. Forest Service, retired, Salmon, Idaho
Barry Wynsma, a retired Forest Service friend from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, introduced me to Lynn Bennett in an email note that included a video featuring 38 years of wisdom that is still swirling around inside Lynn’s head. We subsequently spent more than two hours on the phone talking about the Forest Service thrall with managed fire.
“It’s insane,” he told me. “The current supervisor on the Salmon-Challis is very proud of the fact that he’s closed more than 65 miles of road in a drainage that has very high wildfire risk due to high ignition probability and dense fuels. Also he has likely closed more than 100 miles in other projects and additional roads under the guise of wildfire suppression restoration.
“In the last 10 years, the Forest has built less than one mile of new permanent roads for fuels and timber management…
Since 1986, Evergreen Magazine has been the voice of American forestry and science-based forest policy. In the ongoing pursuit of practical, sustainable and productive forests, we’ve updated our look and expanded our reach. These improvements aren’t merely cosmetic. We’ve been delighted to discover a broad audience of reasonable, cooperative people who understand the vital importance of healthy, actively-managed forests. We’ve recruited new talents, crafted new strategies, and prepared tirelessly for what our founder Jim Petersen calls “the race to a better future”.
We hope you’ll join us. It’s people like you, people who care about our health, economy and environment, that will enable us to bring about the changes we know must be made. Looking forward, we see the opportunity for rural and urban, right and left, wealthy and poor, to unite under this common cause to the greater benefit of all. Your time, your donations, your willingness to advance this noble goal, are the proof that Americans are ready to move past rhetoric and conflict to craft solutions that strengthen and empower our communities, our children, and ourselves. Thanks for coming. We’re glad to have you.
Your tax-deductible contribution allows us to continue providing science-based forestry information with the goal of ensuring healthy forests forever.
DONATE NOWIn this interview, Chief Moore discusses the challenges he faces, including some that will remain challenges long after he retires.
Earth Day is more than taking care of our own personal habitat - and good Earth stewardship requires an ongoing consideration of all the facts.
The untold story of American forest fires
Your tax-deductible contribution allows us to continue providing science-based forestry information with the goal of ensuring healthy forests forever.
DONATE NOWFor as long as there will ever be an interest in Oregon's first State Forest, the Elliott, there will be an appreciation of Jerry Phillips.
Long time Evergreen Foundation board member, Mike Newton, died August 30 at his home in Corvallis, Oregon. He was a marvelous scientist [PhD in Botany], and a beloved Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University.
Another god-awful wildfire season is winding down in the West. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore was forced to remove prescribed fire from the agency’s toolbox on May 22 after the disastrous Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico blew past 300,000 acres.