森林保护运动的新进展:美国《威克斯法》的颁布及其作用

The New Development of the Forest Protection Movement:The Promulgation and Effect of the"Weeks Act"

北美早期定居者对森林的敌视态度和“伐光政策”使美国东部森林大面积损毁,造成了严重的资源危机和生态恶果。人们的生产生活受到威胁,尤其是河流的适航性受到极大损害,由此引发进步主义时期的森林保护运动和《威克斯法》的出台。该法旨在由美国联邦政府拨款购买阿巴拉契亚山区土地,建立国有森林。在参众两院会议上绕该法案展开了激烈辩论。《威克斯法》的实施使大片林地置于国家控制之下,联邦政府逐步建立起森林保护的基本框架,实现了国家林业的多用途管理,标志着美国森林保护政策的新发展。

The early North American settlers showed hostility towards forests.The"clear-cutting policy"caused extensive damages to forests in the eastern United States,which led to various resource crises and serious ecological consequences.It threatened people’s production and everyday life and greatly damaged the navigability of rivers.Under such circumstances,the forest protection movement rose in the progressive period and the"Weeks Act"was promulgated.It sought federal funding to buy land in Appalachia and build a national forest there.The bill was hotly debated in the House and Senate but successfully issued.Since then,the"Weeks Act"had brought large tracts of forest under state control.The federal government established the basic framework for forest protection,managed the national forestry for multi-purposes,and achieved new development in forest protection in the United States.