The Progressives' beliefs in expert management makes sense. The fatal flaw of the Progressive system was the assumption that federal experts would be insulated from pork barrel politics. But this is not how it works. Private tree farms are forced to optimize production since they are responsive to market forces and do not receive financial backing from the government. Port Blakely Tree Farms, established in 1864, is a glowing example of durability in the timber industry.
Port Blakely can attribute much of their longevity to properly managing their resources.
But optimizing natural resources means far more than just focusing on timber production. It includes management practices that allow for additional land uses that respond to the demands of recreationists and wildlife enthusiasts. Better ecosystem management fosters profits and a diverse collection of marketable items. Private tree farms do not hold all the answers to reform. Often, the highest economic use of national forests lies in recreation, watershed and habitat protection rather than commodity production.