Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In Clearcutting the Pacific Rain Forest, Richard Rajala explores the roots of the deforestation crisis in the Douglas fir regions of Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia between 1880 and 1965.
Beginning with an analysis of the technological and managerial innovations that introduced a factory regime to coastal logging, he goes on to study the environmental, scientific, and political history of clearcutting. Rajala documents the growing awareness of the impact of cutting practices on forest renewal, the development of silvicultural regulations, and the relationship between governments and corporations in policy making. By integrating class, environmental, and political issues, Rajala provides a unique perspective on the controversy surrounding clearcutting and other forest practices.