Jeff Tomac

Jeff Tomac, a photo by Semester in the West on Flickr.

Jeff Tomac
Forest Ranger on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, U.S. Forest Service
Baker County
August 27

An experienced Forest Service Ranger, Tomac definitely sees himself as the mediator between commercial and environmental interests. He met with us to describe his experience of enforcing and complying with the many laws and obligations, old and new, that govern the U.S. Forest Service. He also described the lengthy process of compromising and on forest management and restoration on public lands. Even the land on which we camped was the subject of conflict between private cattle drivers and those for the protection of aspen and beaver habitat. He left us with a solid idea about the complexity of this mediating process, as well as the length of time over which such a process operates.  Passionate and excited about his job, Tomac says he came to this part of the country for a challenge, and it certainly seem he got his wish.

Via Flickr:
US Forest Service District Ranger Jeff Tomac talks about the challenges of mediation between environmentalists, ranchers, and a national bureaucracy full of internal politics.