PRAISE FOR DOUGLAS-FIR
“Arno and Fiedler have crafted an insightful and engaging paean to the Pacific Northwest’s most important tree. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand not only the ecological story of Douglas-fir but also how these majestic trees shaped the economic story of Puget Sound and the entire region.”
—David B. Williams, author, Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle’s Topography
“Stephen Arno and Carl Fiedler’s inviting text Douglas Fir is filled with information about the versatile, resilient conifer that ‘from firewood to flumes, flagpoles to flooring, snowshoes to spars, and liquor to lumber [fills] needs or niches in the lives of everyday people.’ . . . Featuring multiple illustrations, historical photographs, and a list of notable Douglas-firs to visit across the US and Canada, the book is a comprehensive look at the fascinating tree.”
—Foreword Reviews
“This book is a gift to those of us who love trees. It reflects decades of observation and research by two dedicated scientists, but is far more than a simple botanical treatise about a dominant forest tree. The authors not only tell the story of Douglas-fir as a species but describe in fascinating detail how our human relationship with this iconic, ‘truly extraordinary’ tree has shaped our ecosystems, our history, our economy and our cultures in so many different ways. This affectionate yet rigorously documented book should be a must for any library specializing in environment, history or politics.”
—Nancy J. Turner, ethnobotanist and distinguished professor emeritus, environmental studies, University of Victoria
“The Douglas-fir of North America is an outstanding tree in many respects. Its beauty, great size and age, and role as a keystone species have given it a central emotional, spiritual and ecological role in the celebrated old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. For over 6,000 years humans in western North America have had a close cultural relationship with this species, and today, it is widely planted on six continents and ranks as the most economically important softwood timber species in the world. Arno and Fiedler have captured the cultural and ecological diversity of this extraordinary tree in a detailed and engrossing study that weaves science, history, and insight into a memorable book that will be enjoyed by all who love the native forests of the West.”
—Chris Earle, forest ecologist and founder of Conifers.org
MOUNTAINEERS BOOKS is dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and enjoyment of outdoor and wilderness areas.
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134
800-553-4453, www.mountaineersbooks.org
Copyright © 2020 by Stephen F. Arno and Carl E. Fiedler
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Mountaineers Books and its colophon are registered trademarks of
The Mountaineers organization.
Printed in Canada
Distributed in the United Kingdom by Cordee, www.cordee.co.uk
23 22 21 201 2 3 4 5
Copyeditor: Mindy Seale Fitch
Design and layout: Jen Grable
Cartographer: Martha Bostwick
Illustrator: Zoe Keller, www.zoekeller.com
Cover design: Jen Grable
Cover illustration: Zoe Keller
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data record is available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020004770.
Mountaineers Books titles may be purchased for corporate, educational, or other promotional sales, and our authors are available for a wide range of events. For information on special discounts or booking an author, contact our customer service at 800-553-4453 or [email protected].
ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-68051-199-4
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-68051-200-7
To Dr. Roland Rethke, who in the early 1960s chose to inspire me and other students at Olympic (Junior) College to learn about forest ecology when he could have joined the faculty of a major university
—Stephen Arno
To my brothers, David and Mark, and the many other friends whose help allowed me to continue working on this book despite my medical problems
—Carl Fiedler
CONTENTS
Introduction: Nature’s All-Purpose Tree
Unlocking Douglas-Fir’s Secrets
Inland Douglas-Fir: Fixture of the Mountain West
Douglas-Fir Use Through the Ages
Different Forests, Different Fires
What Future Awaits Douglas-Fir Forests?