Natural rivals : John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and the creation of America's public lands

A dynamic examination that traces the lives of two of the most influential figures?and their dueling approaches?on America's natural landscape. John Muir, the most famous naturalist in American history, protected Yosemite, co-founded the Sierra Club, and is sometimes called the Father of the National Parks. A poor immigrant, self-taught, individualistic, and skeptical of institutions, his idealistic belief in the spiritual benefits of holistic natural systems led him to a philosophy of preserving wilderness unimpaired. Gifford Pinchot founded the U.S. Forest Service and advised his friend Theodore Roosevelt on environmental policy. Raised in wealth, educated in privilege, and interested in how institutions and community can overcome failures in individual virtue, Pinchot's pragmatic belief in professional management led him to a philosophy of sustainably conserving natural resources. When these rivaling perspectives meet, what happens? For decades, the story of their relationship has been told as a split between the conservation and preservation philosophies, sparked by a proposal to dam a remote Yosemite valley called Hetch Hetchy. But a decade before that argument, Muir and Pinchot camped together alongside Montana's jewel-like Lake McDonald in, which was at the heart of a region not yet consecrated as Glacier National Park. At stake in 1896 was the new idea that some landscapes should be collectively, permanently owned by a democratic government. Although many people today think of public lands as an American birthright, their very existence was then in doubt, and dependent on a merger of the talents of these two men. Natural Rivals examines a time of environmental threat and political dysfunction not unlike our own, and reveals the complex dynamic that gave birth to America's rich public lands legacy John Muir, The Most Famous Naturalist In American History, Protected Yosemite, Co-founded The Sierra Club, And Is Sometimes Called The Father Of The National Parks. A Poor Immigrant, Self-taught, Individualistic, And Skeptical Of Institutions, His Idealistic Belief In The Spiritual Benefits Of Holistic Natural Systems Led Him To A Philosophy Of Preserving Wilderness Unimpaired. Gifford Pinchot Founded The U.s. Forest Service And Advised His Friend Theodore Roosevelt On Environmental Policy. Raised In Wealth, Educated In Privilege, And Interested In How Institutions And Community Can Overcome Failures In Individual Virtue, Pinchot's Pragmatic Belief In Professional Management Led Him To A Philosophy Of Sustainably Conserving Natural Resources. When These Rivaling Perspectives Meet, What Happens? For Decades, The Story Of Their Relationship Has Been Told As A Split Between The Conservation And Preservation Philosophies, Sparked By A Proposal To Dam A Remote Yosemite Valley Called Hetch Hetchy. But A Decade Before That Argument, Muir And Pinchot Camped Together Alongside Montana's Jewel-like Lake Mcdonald In, Which Was At The Heart Of A Region Not Yet Consecrated As Glacier National Park. At Stake In 1896 Was The New Idea That Some Landscapes Should Be Collectively, Permanently Owned By A Democratic Government. Although Many People Today Think Of Public Lands As An American Birthright, Their Very Existence Was Then In Doubt, And Dependent On A Merger Of The Talents Of These Two Men. Natural Rivals Examines A Time Of Environmental Threat And Political Dysfunction Not Unlike Our Own, And Reveals The Complex Dynamic That Gave Birth To America's Rich Public Lands Legacy. - Provided By Publisher John Clayton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 259-265) And Index. John Muir and Gifford Pinchot have often been seen as the embodiment of conflicting environmental philosophies. Muir, the preservationist and co-founder of the Sierra Club. Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service advocating sustainability in timber harvests, instituted conservation. The idealistic Muir saw nature as something special and separate; the pragmatic Pinchot accepted that people used the products of nature. The environmental movement's original sin, and the root of many of it's difficulties, was its inability to reconcile these two viewpoints—and these two men.So how was it that Muir and Pinchot went camping together—and delighted in each other's company? Does this mean that the seemingly irreparable divide in environmental ethos is not as unbridgeable as it might seem? The perceived rivalry between these two men has obscured a fascinating and hopeful story. Muir and Pinchot actually spent years in an alliance that lead to the original movement for public lands. Their shared commitment to the glories of natural landscapes united their disparate talents and viewpoints to create a fledgling and uniquely American vision of land ownership and management. A dynamic examination that traces the lives of two of the most influential figures on America's natural landscape. John Muir and Gifford Pinchot have often been seen as the embodiment of conflicting environmental philosophies. Muir, the preservationist, was the protector of Yosemite and co-founder of the Sierra Club. Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service advocating sustainability in timber harvests, instituted conservation. These views of how society related to nature were inherently at odds. The idealistic Muir saw nature as something special and separate from flawed humanity; the pragmatic Pinchot understood that people used the products of nature because they were part of nature. The environmental movement's original sin, and the root of many of it's difficulties, was its inability to reconcile these two viewpoints—and these two men. So how was it that Muir and Pinchot went camping together amongst the sharp peaks, and jewel-like... Epub3