The White Mountain National Forest is getting a new Supervisor. NHPR's Doug MacPherson reports.
If you'd like to hear an interview with Tom Wagner recorded last summer, click here: http://www.nhpr.org/content/fullmonty_view.php/1455/
THE U-S FOREST SERVICE IS THE SINGLE LARGEST LANDOWNER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL FOREST ENCOMPASSES ALMOST 800-THOUSAND ACRES. IT?S ONE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE?S BIGGEST ECONOMIC ENGINES, ATTRACTING MILLIONS OF VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND INCREASINGLY -- FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THE NAMING OF THE NEXT FOREST SUPERVISOR HAS BEEN A MUCH ANTICIPATED EVENT AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE. THE POST HAS BEEN FILLED TEMPORARILY SINCE THE LAST SUPERVISOR LEFT THE JOB LAST SUMMER. TODAY, THE U-S FOREST SERVICE NAMED TOM WAGNER TO BE THE NEW FOREST SUPERVISOR. WAGNER SAYS HE?S EXCITED.
TAPE WAGNER it?s a very busy forest with complex issues and lots of people with lots of interests and lots of demands. :06
WAGNER COMES TO THE WHITE MOUNTAINS FROM MINNESOTA, WHERE HE?S BEEN THE DEPUTY SUPERVISOR OF THE SUPERIOR NATIONAL FOREST. HE SAYS ONE OF HIS FIRST JOBS ON THE WHITES WILL BE COMPLETING A NEW FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. THESE PLANS SERVE AS THE BLUEPRINT FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO A FOREST FOR A DECADE OR LONGER. WAGNER IS WELL AWARE THAT RE-WRITING THE WHITE MOUNTAIN?S PLAN HAS BEEN UNDERWAY SINCE 1994.
TAPE WAGNER We just can?t be taking that long to get those kind of plans done. It?s just too costly, and requires to stay engaged way too long on the planning side. So I?m looking forward ? I know the forest has made some good progress in the last year ? looking forward to getting the forest plan completed. : 17
WAGNER KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THE FOREST HE?S TAKING OVER ? HE SERVED AS ITS ACTING SUPERVISOR FOR THE LATTER HALF OF LAST YEAR. IT?S A FOREST WITH A TROUBLED RECENT PAST.
IN AN INTERVIEW RECORDED LAST WEEK, CHARLIE NIEBLING, POLICY DIRECTOR FOR THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FORESTS, SAID THE REASON FOR THOSE TROUBLES IS EASY TO IDENTIFY.
TAPE NIEBLING 023 the white mountains are really what we see when nh looks itself in the mirror. And that?s a vital leadership position in the state. And for the last five years, the last 5-6 years, we really have not had very effective leadership. :13
NIEBLING SAID THE RESULT HAS BEEN STRAINED RELATIONS WITH KEY CONSTITUENTS. HE CALLED WAGNER?S BRIEF TENURE AS ACTING SUPERVISOR A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. TODAY JANE DIFLEY, THE HEAD OF THE FOREST SOCIETY, SAID SHE?S EXCITED ABOUT WAGNER?S RETURN.
TAPE DIFLEY we?ve had the benefit of knowing tom. And I?ve been very impressed with his ability to get along with folks, and listen to people?s concerns, and to try to address those concerns. :11
ONE OF WAGNER?S NEW NEIGHBORS ALSO WELCOMES HIS APPOINTMENT. HOUSE SPEAKER GENE CHANDLER LIVES IN BARTLET.
TAPE CHANDLER I feel that he understands the white mountain national forest, and has an eye towards the multi-use concept that most of us, or certainly those of us who live up in the area have long supported. :12
WAGNER SAYS HE EXPECTS TO FORMALLY TAKE UP HIS NEW DUTIES IN JUNE, SOON AFTER HIS THREE CHILDREN FINISH THEIR SCHOOL YEAR IN MINNESOTA. FOR N-H-P-R NEWS, I?M DOUG MACPHERSON.
