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

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 Life03:17 Wild Places in France05:29 Why the Clearwater Matters07:29 Inland Rainforest Ecology09:15 Wolves Grizzlies Caribou14:29 Roadless Rule Loopholes16:41 Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act19:26 Politics Jobs and Subsidies24:10 Recreation Versus Wilderness29:54 What Wilderness Protects31:46 Logging Bans Explained32:38 Grazing and Guiding Loopholes34:10 Chainsaws and Trail Ethics36:33 Forest Service Reorg Fallout38:58 Losing Wilderness Professionals45:23 Devolution to State Control47:29 Research Stations and Fire Science50:32 Privatization and Canada Warning53:25 Reform Ideas for New Agencies58:26 Prescribed Fire and Home Hardening Get full access to Our Public Lands Podcast at ourpubliclandspodcast.substack.com/subscribe