Oral history interview with Thomas L. Tidwell, 2021
Abstract
Thomas Tidwell reflects on his service as chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS) from 2009 to 2017. Tidwell recounts formative experiences from his service in USFS prior to his appointment by President Obama, and speaks widely about his efforts to change major aspects of USFS policy. He focuses on the agency's shift from an emphasis on production forestry to an ecological approach to ecos ystem management, and describes the agency's efforts to adapt practices to climate change-induced changes to American landscapes. Tidwell provides details about notable issues and initiatives with which he was closely involved, including the location of the USFS in the United States Department of Agriculture and the coordination of interagency activities; the USFS budget and his management of congressional relations; USFS's approach to firefighting, particularly in the context of changing fire conditions; efforts to increase the diversity and inclusivity of USFS; his collaborative approach to relations with environmental groups and tribal leaders; and the challenges associated with public communications in the changing media environment. Also discussed are conservation and the protection of endangered species; the increased significance of recreation on USFS lands; livestock and grazing policy; the role of USFS in job creation and the economic recovery; and the stature of USFS region 1
Presidents--United States; Ecosystem management--United States; Climatic changes--United States; Forest fires--Prevention and control--United States; Communication in politics--United States; Tidwell, Thomas; Obama, Barack; United States. Forest Service
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2021
Physical Description
81 pages
Note (Biographical)
Thomas Tidwell is an American forester and public servant, who served in the Obama administration as chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS) from 2009 to 2017. Tidwell joined the Obama administration toward the end of a decades-long career in the Forest Service, over the course of which he served in a wide variety of roles in eight different national forests, including on fire ground crews, as a district ranger, forest supervisor, deputy regional forester, regional forester, and in the Forest Service's Washington, D.C. office of legislative affairs. Immediately prior to his appointment as USFS chief, Tidwell was regional forester for the northern region (Region 1), which includes 25 million acres of public lands across Idaho, Montana, Washington, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Tidwell retired from the Forest Service in 2017
Note
Interviewed by Peter Bearman on August 18 and 23, 2021. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Thomas L. Tidwell, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023