About
From 1981 through 2018, the George Wright Society published The George Wright Forum, an interdisciplinary journal that explored innovative thinking and offered enduring perspectives on critical issues across the whole spectrum of place-based heritage management and stewardship. The George Wright Forum published insights from virtually every field in cultural and natural resources related to parks, protected areas, and cultural sites.
Beginning in 2020, that same editorial vision is carried on in a successor journal, Parks Stewardship Forum, co-published by the UC Berkeley Institute for People, Parks, and Biodiversity and the George Wright Society.
Volume 2, Issue 4, 1982
Autumn 1982
Articles
- Editorial
A commentary on GWS conferences to date.
- Recommendations from the Conference Workshops
This article presents the key recommendations from two workshops—Cultural Resources and Natural Resources—held under the auspices of The George Wright Society. Both groups emphasized the urgent need for interdisciplinary collaboration in the management of natural and cultural resources. The Cultural Resources group called for dismantling the artificial divide between cultural and natural resource disciplines, advocating for shared communication platforms, conceptual melding, and a code of ethics promoting responsible resource stewardship. Meanwhile, the Natural Resources group stressed the significance of integrating ecological, historical, and social perspectives in resource management. They recommended enhancing professional networks, promoting long-term monitoring, and improving public communication to build broader constituencies for conservation. Together, the workshops underscore the Society's potential role as a hub for interdisciplinary dialogue and action, advancing holistic strategies for the protection of heritage resources.
- The US National Park System's Cultural Resources
This article offers a comprehensive overview of the diverse and expansive cultural resources managed by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS), emphasizing the growing significance of historical and archaeological preservation within the system. Holland highlights the evolution of the NPS's attitudes and practices, moving from a primarily natural-resource-focused approach to a more sophisticated understanding and stewardship of cultural heritage. The article details the scope of resources under NPS care—including thousands of historic structures, archaeological sites, and museum objects—and addresses both achievements and ongoing challenges, such as inadequate data collection, deferred maintenance, and funding limitations. Case studies, including Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Lowell National Historical Park, illustrate innovative management models and adaptive reuse strategies. Holland also discusses the implications of external pressures, such as urban encroachment and energy development, and advocates for increased collaboration, funding diversification, and preservation advocacy to ensure the sustainability of the nation's cultural assets.
- Barrier Beaches: Special Management Problems
This article examines the complex challenges faced by the National Park Service in managing barrier beaches, unique coastal landforms that are ecologically dynamic, geographically fragile, and politically contested. Godfrey explores the natural processes that shape barrier beaches, including their constant reshaping by wind, tides, and storms, and emphasizes the critical ecological roles they play for wildlife and estuarine systems. The article discusses the historical and ongoing human impacts on these areas, such as development, recreation, and vehicle use, and highlights conflicts between traditional land uses and conservation goals. Management dilemmas are compounded by the unpredictable and rapidly changing nature of barrier environments, limited accessibility, and external pollutants. Godfrey argues for a science-based, site-specific approach to managing these coastal systems, stressing the need for ecological research, adaptive policies, and public education. He concludes that while some areas may be best left to natural processes, others require difficult compromises to balance preservation with human use.
- Will the Real Archeology Please Stand Up? Comments on the Status of American Archeology, ca AD 1982
In this critical reflection, W. James Judge explores the complex state of American prehistoric archaeology in the early 1980s, highlighting its evolution from artifact-centered collection to a scientifically grounded investigation of cultural processes. Judge examines the methodological shift toward processual archaeology, the field's increasing alignment with natural sciences, and the challenges of integrating this scientific identity within a policy and administrative framework that often categorizes archaeology as a branch of historic preservation. He critiques the effects of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) mandates, legal frameworks such as the Antiquities Act and ARPA, and shifting public expectations on the integrity and goals of archaeological research. Emphasizing communication failures, professional identity crises, and the tensions between preservation and practicality, Judge calls for a reinvigorated conservation ethic, interdisciplinary collaboration, and clearer articulation of archaeology's value to both policymakers and the public.
- Making Nature Whole: Fifty Years of Ecosystem Restoration at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum
This article chronicles the pioneering efforts in ecosystem restoration at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, initiated in the 1930s under the influence of Aldo Leopold. William Jordan III explores how the Arboretum project marked the first systematic attempt to reconstruct damaged landscapes into functioning ecological communities, aiming to replicate presettlement Wisconsin ecosystems. The restoration process, driven by experimentation and necessity, not only reestablished plant and animal communities but also gave rise to new ecological insights and methodologies. Jordan highlights how restoration evolved from a practical effort into a powerful tool for basic ecological research, drawing parallels with medicine in its diagnostic and integrative approaches. Emphasizing restoration's interdisciplinary roots and ethical dimensions, the article calls for deeper recognition of its significance and potential within environmental management and conservation science. The Arboretum stands as a model for future ecological restoration and a testament to Leopold's enduring legacy in environmental thought.
- Historic Martime Resources
This article provides a comprehensive overview of maritime preservation efforts in the United States, highlighting the historical, cultural, and educational significance of the nation's maritime heritage. Carr discusses the multifaceted nature of maritime preservation, including museums, ship restoration, historic structures, maritime education, libraries, publications, sail training, skills preservation, and oral history. He emphasizes the growing public interest in maritime history, as evidenced by successful festivals and waterfront revitalization projects. The article also addresses challenges such as limited national coordination, insufficient preservation standards, and threats to submerged archaeological sites. Carr advocates for a unified national strategy, including stronger institutional support and international collaboration, to safeguard and promote maritime resources. He concludes with optimism about the field's maturation and its potential for expanded impact through professionalized standards and coordinated national efforts.
- Isle Royale's Submerged Resource
Isle Royale National Park, known for its rugged wilderness, harbors an equally compelling yet lesser-known asset beneath the surface: a rich collection of submerged cultural resources. As scuba diving gains popularity, park managers have turned their attention to the preservation and study of these underwater sites, which include some of the most significant shipwrecks in the United States. The National Park Service's Submerged Cultural Resources Unit (SCRU) has been instrumental in documenting and managing these resources using advanced underwater archaeological techniques. Highlighting a 1982 training course hosted at Isle Royale, the article showcases efforts to broaden expertise in underwater site management across agencies. Beyond shipwrecks, the park contains numerous submerged sites tied to fishing, trade, industry, and recreation. Author Bruce E. Weber emphasizes the national significance of these resources and the increasing pressures they face from commercial and recreational interests, underscoring the importance of continued stewardship and interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Nicholas Louis Scrattish, 1942–1982
An obituary of the National Park Service historian N.L. Scrattish.