In this episode, I speak with long-time wilderness advocate Gary MacFarlane. Gary discusses moving from Idaho to France, still active with Wilderness Watch and Friends of the Clearwater, he explains his long connection to the Northern Rockies and why the Clearwater Basin is so special to him, with diverse habitats and notable wildlife history including wolves, grizzly sightings, and the decline of woodland caribou tied to habitat change and human access. Our conversation covers threats to roadless areas, weaknesses and loopholes in the Roadless Rule, and the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. We discuss mechanized recreation, core Wilderness Act protections, and concerns about Forest Service ties to industry, outsourcing, and reorganization harming wilderness stewardship, plus critiques of fire-logging justifications.

02:03 Idaho to France Life

03:17 Wild Places in France

05:29 Why the Clearwater Matters

07:29 Inland Rainforest Ecology

09:15 Wolves Grizzlies Caribou

14:29 Roadless Rule Loopholes

16:41 Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act

19:26 Politics Jobs and Subsidies

24:10 Recreation Versus Wilderness

29:54 What Wilderness Protects

31:46 Logging Bans Explained

32:38 Grazing and Guiding Loopholes

34:10 Chainsaws and Trail Ethics

36:33 Forest Service Reorg Fallout

38:58 Losing Wilderness Professionals

45:23 Devolution to State Control

47:29 Research Stations and Fire Science

50:32 Privatization and Canada Warning

53:25 Reform Ideas for New Agencies

58:26 Prescribed Fire and Home Hardening

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#76 - Clearwater Country, Wilderness Values, and Forest Service Restructuring w/ Gary Macfarlane