Also See: Endorsements "The principles set out in The Redesigned Forest are not restricted to forests, but are equally applicable to any other natural ecosystem on planet earth, and Chris Maser's erudite and yet easy-to-follow writing and his keen perceptiveness are a welcome and refreshing breeze in a world in need of hope."
"This is a very personal book of the author's philosophy of life and love for our planet and all things. It is full of … ecological wisdom: must reading for those who care (or should care) about sustaining our forest. My dream is that Chris Maser's ideas will take root, grow, and flourish."
"In The Redesigned Forest, Chris Maser issues a serious, sensible, and sensitive challenge to the way in which the forest lands of northwest North America are managed. For too long, the land and its vast and diverse resources have been viewed as conquerable and inexhaustable. Also for too long, its management and use have been shaped by policies encouraging short-term, economic gain. In this process, man has isolated himself from the land. Secure in towns and cities far away from the forest lands, politicians and technocrats pay no serious attention to the devastating consequences of their undertakings.
"Chris Maser calls for a new way of envisioning the forest … one that is broad enough to allow for a multitude of values and perspectives. Indeed, in the long run, the very survival of humanity will depend on this. In helping us to look through his eyes at the integrations found within a forest ecosystem, Maser is, at the same time, helping his readers to become more cognizant and sensitive to the need for personal and cultural integration and transformation. For it is by learning to heal ourselves and our relationships with each other that we can learn to heal the world about us. Thus, it is only in the restoration of human dignity that we begin to have restoration forestry."
"The work of Chris Maser, a former BLM employee, stands as perhaps the most striking testament to the ferment that is now taking place within the federal land agencies. The Redesigned Forest is a provocative, highly readable call to arms for fundamental reform of our policy toward old-growth forests. Maser's creative thinking and writing surely will figure prominently in the comprehensive reassessment that we are now undergoing in regard to our treatment of the nation's forest lands."
"I'm about half way through Chris Maser's THE REDESIGNED FOREST, having recently finished a related book THE FOREST AND THE TREES, by Gorden Robison. In both cases I believe that the authors view forest management as art, not science, but feel that science may be of some use to help better understand the dynamics of the interrelated systems and subsystems that constitute forests. Maser's illustrations are anecdotal, I believe, and not meant to be comprehensive. His appeal is for us to admit how very little we really know about the environment and the many interrelated, dynamic systems that make it up. Maser's style is romantic, and will no doubt cause consternation among some scientists. His plea is for synthesis, much like that made by Allan Bloom in THE CLOSING OF THE AMERICAN MIND in his highly controversial criticism of American education. In arriving at this synthesis, Maser would want us to manage forests after considering as many interrelationships as possible, tracking consequences of action broadly across space and through time. I like the book, while recognizing some human failings in its construction—Maser just didn't have ten years to wait to try to perfect his plea, the Old Growth in the Pacific Northwest might be gone by then. But there are those who take a far dimmer view—read on."
"In The Redesigned Forest, Chris Maser has written for the layperson an accessible, gentle, and non-confrontational book that casts serious doubt on current forest management policies in British Columbia. … The Redesigned Forest deserves a prominent place in the discussion currently underway as British Columbians try to develop a sustainable forest management policy to take us into the 21st century."
"Author, lecturer, and international consultant on forest management issues, Chris Maser of Corvallis, Oregon, is known to some as the 'Ghandi of the Forest.' He was employed as research biologist for 12 years with the Bureau of Land Management and is considered an expert on ancient or old-growth forests. His informed, nonadversarial approach toward environmental issues and competing interest groups has won him the respect of conservationists, government agencies, and members of the timber industry. … Your book, 'The Redesigned Forest,' seems to be written as much by a poet as a scientist."
"When it was first published, Chris Maser's book almost immediately became a classic, a 'must read' for those concerned with forest issues. The work is a far-reaching discussion of our cultural mindset and how it has led to destructive, inappropriate forestry. In the environmental debate the forestry industry frequently poses the familiar conundrum "We depend on the forests; why would we destroy them? The Redesigned Forest explains why.
"Chris Maser's most prominent book was published in 1988 and is entitled The Redesigned Forest. He uses the notion of a 'redesigned' forest in order to differentiate his approach from the 'forest management' school of the U.S. Forest Service. Maser worked for twenty years as a research scientist for the Forest Service, and includes many useful details in his book. The biggest problem with his book, however, is the patronizing, evangelical polemic dominating almost every page. The evangelical tone threatens to discount his most valuable insights. A characteristic passage appears at the end of the introduction:
"Every forest landowner should be encouraged to read The Redesigned Forest, a book by Chris Maser, a professional forester living in Oregon. (Unfortunately, this excellent book is no longer in print, but may be found in libraries or used-book stores.)"
"I'm an ex-journalist, now a sustainable tourism development consultant. When I retrained by taking a degree at the University of Victoria in 1988-1990, your Redeisgned Forest was the most influential textbook I read (and it wasn't on any course list). You put words to many of the basic concepts (like the value of soil) that had previously been only intuitive."
"my name is mia, i am a student at Ramapo college of new jersey. i have read your book The Redesigned Forest for my forest resources class. let me first tell you how much your book moved me. it made me realize how often i am not truly 'present' and it also boosted my self esteem to read about the part of your book that discusses fear of not being accepted by others if they happen to catch you being the REAL you, if you should ever happen to slip out of character. your book has reinstilled my beliefs, taught me a great deal about how the forest operates as a whole, made me understand myself and very much so others, all while being an incredably enjoyable read. and at no time did you assume to know ALL of the answers, which i respect. i would like to deeply thank you. you have a wonderful soul and are very talented in expressing your ideas which is so very important given that we are in a point of time where the spreading of knowledge and ideas outside of what is presented in mainstream media are our best chance for change. namaste, i honor the light inside of you that is within us all. yours truly and sincerely, mia. "
"Chris Maser's (1990) book The Redesigned Forest unquestioningly was influential in challenging the status quo [of silviculture] in the Pacific Northwest, and in turn, the country. This debate, still very much ongoing, has caused the maturing forestry profession to reexamine its core values."
"The author clearly explains the natural design of a forest, and how science and technology have tried to change that design. If you're interested in knowing about forests, this book is a important addition to your library." |
