Post by hikerjer on Feb 5, 2022 20:25:17 GMT -8
The National Grasslands: A Guide to America's Undiscovered Treasures describes the history and status the forest service's "poorer cousins" if you will. While not nearly as extensive as our national forests, our national grasslands are part of the U.S. Forest Service's lands and are often overlooked and under appreciated for the the treasures they are. This book decribes how they came into existence under FDR's New Deal land restoration projects and their development into the system they are today. Moul goes into the history, adminstrative details and the attempt to find a balance with the multiple use concept of our public lands. The book describes each of the grasslands and their role in the surrounding ecosystem and local economy. As most of you do, I love the mountains but I'm gaining an increasing awareness and appreciation for the plains and prairies. This book is a good place to start in developing an appreication of the unqiue treasure that our few remaining wild grasslands have to offer. Moul also delves somewhat into the "Bufffalo Commons" controversy which would restore large portions of the American plains to a much more natural state where grazing, agriculutral and other economic activities would be severly limited and the area restored to much more natural environment allowing natural wildlife and vegetation to dominate. To qoute Willa Cather, "Anybody can love the mountains, but it takes a soul to love the prairie”.
