Toward a Free Market in Forest Resources

Conflict over the use and management of America’s forest lands and resources intensified during the 1970s, with debates over the use of the undeveloped lands inventoried by the Forest Service, the divi- sion of lands in Alaska, the establishment and expansion of certain national parks acquired from private landowners, and the regulation of forest practices on private lands. These conflicts date from Coloni- al times, when British attempts to reserve all the white pine trees in New England for the kings navy were among the grievances that led to the American Revolution.’ Those who wage the battle for conser- vation argue that resources must be conserved by government decree. Their position is based largely on a distrust of private owner- ship and of the free market as an allocator of natural resources. Their opponents point to the growing demands for wood products, water, livestock forage, and minerals, and seek to develop them...