Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack signed a proclamation March 2 recognizing the beginning of the centennial celebration of a landmark piece of environmental legislation that led to the creation of nearly 20 million acres of new national forests in the eastern United States.
The Weeks Act, which signifies one of most important natural resource conservation achievements of the 20th century, provided the foundation for the creation of national forests in the East as well as the cooperative relationship with states, tribes, and individuals to protect and enhance forests, grasslands, and watersheds from fire and other threats. About one-fifth of the nation’s clean drinking water has its origins in forests preserved under the Weeks Act.
“The Weeks Act is one of the most significant natural resource conservation achievements of the 20th century,” said Vilsack. “This Act reminds us of the importance of past conservation efforts that shape our ability to sustain our national forests today and to keep them healthy for the future. The Weeks Act has given us significant economic and environmental benefits, but it’s done more than that. The Weeks Act ensures that all Americans have access to some of the most beautiful places in our country.”
More than 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail wind through forests that were purchased under the Weeks Act, and those same forests provide habitat for important species including the brook trout, bald eagle, and black bear.
The act, named after former Rep. John Weeks of Massachusetts, was spurred by a changing national attitude that evolved in the early 1900s toward conserving public lands. Until then, lands set aside for conservation were all located in the West and were created from large blocks of land in the public domain. The act allowed land acquisition processes through purchase of private lands to establish publicly owned forests, particularly in the East.
“The Weeks Act led the way for millions of acres of cut-over, eroded lands to be replanted. Today, those lands are resilient national forests” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. “The Weeks Act established a way for the Forest Service to work across boundaries with a broad array of partners to achieve conservation success. It set the stage for the current approach of working together on challenges such as climate change, water supply, and restoration issues.”
During the last 100 years, the Weeks Act has led to the creation of 52 national forests in 26 Eastern states, and the addition of 19.7 million acres on national forests and grasslands across 41 states and Puerto Rico. Passage of the Weeks Act created both immediate and long-term benefits, which are still part of the U.S. Forest Service mission today:
- The immediate protection of Eastern watersheds from further development;
- The creation of long-term efforts to restore forests on public lands; and
- The cooperative responsibility to protect these lands from intense and damaging wildfires.
The Weeks Act continues to inspire Forest Service programs through projects that foster forest restoration treatments that reduce wildfire risk, enhance fish and wildlife habitats, and maintain and improve water quality. By doing so, rural economies are boosted by the creation of sustainable jobs as landscapes are made more resilient to climate change. To celebrate the Weeks Act, the Forest Service has planned numerous events throughout the year including lecture series, conservation education programs, and a national symposium hosted by the Pinchot Institute. For more information, please visit www.fs.fed.us.
