37.) “Interview with Andy Stahl, Executive Director of the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE).”

Source Notes

Title: Interview with Andy Stahl, Executive Director of the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE).

 

 

Summary:

In a March 12^th, 2009 interview, Andy Stahl, who is the Executive Director of the Forest Service for Environmental Ethics, discusses the mission and values of the FSEEE, and the prospect of the Obama administration acquiring new lands and protecting existing national forests.

Topic:
Andy Stahl on national forest conservation.

 

 

Category:

Institutional/ Citizen.

 

 

What is it.

Interview.

 

 

Publication Information:

N/A

 

 

Author:

Jake Swantko

 

 

Location:

Via phone.

 

 

Accessed:

Interview administered March 12, 2009.

 

 

 

Support:

 

Andy Stahl, the Executive Director of the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE).

 

 

Question and answer format.

Interviewer: Jake Swantko (JS).

Interviewee: Andy Stahl (AS).

 

JS: Please state your name and position at the FSEEE.

 

AS: Executive Director of the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE).

 

JS: What does the FSEEE do?

 

AS: We watch the Forest Service and advocate for more environmental protection of national forest lands. Our mission is to forge a more socially responsible value system for the Forest Service based on a land ethic that ensures ecologically and economically sustainable resource management.

 

JS: Should the federal government lend efforts to acquire and conserve new parks and public lands?

 

AS: Judicially, yes. It should also be noted that the Federal government should provide more protective measures for existing land. I support increased protective measures and the purchase of private land. The purpose of the Land and Water Conservation Fund was to provide funding to such issues. However, past administrations have not used the fund for its true purpose. We encourage the Obama administration to follow the Land and Water Conservation Fund. To conclude, existing land needs to be protected, new wilderness area needs to be aquired and protected also.

 

JS: What are you thoughts on the Clinton administration Roadless Area Conservation Act of 2001?

 

AS: We are very supportive of the rule. We believe that the Obama administration will reinstate the roadless rule.

 

JS: What economic benefit(s) do national forests have other than resource extraction?

 

AS: Economists come in many different flavors in terms of this subject. Some believe that national forests only provide traded value (mining, logging, and drilling). None the less, some believe in the factor of quality of life. There is a great value in national forests other than resource extraction. Healthy forests sequester carbon emissions, they provide free water—Willamette National Forest provides drinking water (water that needs very little purification) for a majority of Eugene residents. Forests also provide wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.

 

 

Audience and Agenda:
N/A

 

Usefulness:

My interview with Andy Stahl provided insight into current and past policies that have affected or will affect national forests. One bill he mentioned was the Omnivous Public Lands Act (S22) which would protect millions of acres of forest land, specifically land in Mt. Hood region of Central Oregon. The bill has popular support—it was short by two votes of being passed (of a two-thirds vote). Mr. Stahl’s commentary on the variety of resources that designated forest areas provide was also very useful.

 

 

 

Works cited:

Andy Stahl, Executive Director of the Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics (FSEEE).

http://www.fseee.org/

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