Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SRSAI (Sowing and Reaping the Seeds of American Influence)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-09-01 bis 2023-08-31
As a historically based project, SRSAI aimed to address several problems rooted in the past as well as their relationship to the present and future. The main research at the center of SRSAI revolved around the idea, implementation, and results of large-scale Douglas fir seeding in Western Europe, a program developed by American groups and individuals in conjunction with colleagues on the other side of the Atlantic, after the First World War. It sought to further understandings of how environmental projects intersected with international relations in the early twentieth century, why Americans took steps to help rebuild Europe’s forest resources, why they chose the specific species for this work, and what the long-term consequences of this program were.
This research offers many benefits for society. Firstly, it offers a historical account for understanding why the Douglas fir now comprises the most common non-native conifer in the forests of Europe (excluding the United Kingdom). Secondly, it demonstrates the costs and benefits of utilizing non-native species for large-scale reforestation projects. Thirdly, it provides a useful case study in international and transnational collaboration in environmental policy, a timely subject in the age of our global climate catastrophe. And finally, it calls attention to the importance of the environmental dimensions of postwar reconstruction projects, a subject that deserves increased attention as the international community continues to ponder the future of Ukraine and its sustainability needs in the years ahead.
The overall objectives for this project are manifold. Intellectually, these objectives have been to recontextualize the First World War and its aftermath through the lenses of the environment and sustainability; to challenge traditional understandings of when, where, how, and why Americans intervened in Europe and, more broadly, around the globe in the twentieth century; and to provide a framework for integrating histories of the environment and international relations. Socially, these objectives have been to increase awareness of the long-standing—and evolving—importance of forests to humanity and to draw attention to the environmental dimensions of international affairs. Professionally, these objectives have been to further my academic career and to collect enough research material for several articles and a monograph.
This research offers many benefits for society. Firstly, it offers a historical account for understanding why the Douglas fir now comprises the most common non-native conifer in the forests of Europe (excluding the United Kingdom). Secondly, it demonstrates the costs and benefits of utilizing non-native species for large-scale reforestation projects. Thirdly, it provides a useful case study in international and transnational collaboration in environmental policy, a timely subject in the age of our global climate catastrophe. And finally, it calls attention to the importance of the environmental dimensions of postwar reconstruction projects, a subject that deserves increased attention as the international community continues to ponder the future of Ukraine and its sustainability needs in the years ahead.
The overall objectives for this project are manifold. Intellectually, these objectives have been to recontextualize the First World War and its aftermath through the lenses of the environment and sustainability; to challenge traditional understandings of when, where, how, and why Americans intervened in Europe and, more broadly, around the globe in the twentieth century; and to provide a framework for integrating histories of the environment and international relations. Socially, these objectives have been to increase awareness of the long-standing—and evolving—importance of forests to humanity and to draw attention to the environmental dimensions of international affairs. Professionally, these objectives have been to further my academic career and to collect enough research material for several articles and a monograph.
During the 10-month period of implementation, work related to SRSAI focused on literature review, primary source research, archival research, and dissemination and communication. For the first four months of the project, work focused primarily on the literature review. This helped build the researcher’s competency in the fields of environmental history, international history, and works that explored the intersection of both. This not only resulted in the review of numerous books, articles, and reports but also led to the development of a familiarity with these fields and a knowledge of which works to consult as the project continues to evolve.
During the next four months, primary source research and archival research commanded most of the researcher’s attention. Primary source research focused on the extensive published materials related to the specific topic of the project, which allowed the researcher to collect data unavailable in the existing scholarly literature. Archival research focused on the examination of data held in archives in seven cities across the United States (Seattle, Portland, Eugene, Tucson, Denver, Durham, Princeton). This resulted in the collection of more than three gigabytes of data, all of which is publicly accessible to researchers at those archives, relevant to the project. Due to unsafe travel conditions related to sanitary concerns in the United Kingdom in the first months of 2022 and plans for the project’s early termination, archival research in that country were cancelled.
The remainder of work activity during the grant period focused on scholarly dissemination and communication. On 22 December 2021, the researcher presented initial findings related to SRSAI and its position within the literature to an online audience based in the United Kingdom at the Environmental History Workshop. Three months later, the researcher presented the early findings of primary source and archival research to a largely American audience at the American Society for Environmental History conference in Eugene, Oregon. The researcher spent the last two months of the grant period preparing two final presentations for audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom at the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Historians of the Twentieth-Century United States conference in Edinburgh, UK. At both conferences, the researcher presented on panels with scholars representing institutions from multiple countries. These presentations facilitated scholarly discussion, helped the researcher refine certain research questions and conclusions, introduced the researcher to others working in similar fields, and intellectually enriched the various scholarly communities who attended the conferences.
During the next four months, primary source research and archival research commanded most of the researcher’s attention. Primary source research focused on the extensive published materials related to the specific topic of the project, which allowed the researcher to collect data unavailable in the existing scholarly literature. Archival research focused on the examination of data held in archives in seven cities across the United States (Seattle, Portland, Eugene, Tucson, Denver, Durham, Princeton). This resulted in the collection of more than three gigabytes of data, all of which is publicly accessible to researchers at those archives, relevant to the project. Due to unsafe travel conditions related to sanitary concerns in the United Kingdom in the first months of 2022 and plans for the project’s early termination, archival research in that country were cancelled.
The remainder of work activity during the grant period focused on scholarly dissemination and communication. On 22 December 2021, the researcher presented initial findings related to SRSAI and its position within the literature to an online audience based in the United Kingdom at the Environmental History Workshop. Three months later, the researcher presented the early findings of primary source and archival research to a largely American audience at the American Society for Environmental History conference in Eugene, Oregon. The researcher spent the last two months of the grant period preparing two final presentations for audiences in the United States and the United Kingdom at the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Historians of the Twentieth-Century United States conference in Edinburgh, UK. At both conferences, the researcher presented on panels with scholars representing institutions from multiple countries. These presentations facilitated scholarly discussion, helped the researcher refine certain research questions and conclusions, introduced the researcher to others working in similar fields, and intellectually enriched the various scholarly communities who attended the conferences.
This project has strong potential for the academic community. At present, editors at two presses have expressed interest in seeing the project developed into a book-length study on the intersections of environmental history and international relations.
Beyond the academy, the results of this research (in addition to further research on the subject) will provide valuable historical data on large-scale afforestation and reforestation projects in Europe, especially after a period of conflict. In the next three decades, the United Kingdom plans to plant 3 billion trees to combat global climate change; the European Union aims for the same number by 2030. Prior to the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine announced plans to plant 1 billion by 2024, but that goal no longer seems possible; nevertheless, reforestation will be as critical in that country once the invasion ends as it was when the First World War ended more than a century ago. SRSAI offers a historical case study in how to implement and manage such a program with assistance from the international community.
Beyond the academy, the results of this research (in addition to further research on the subject) will provide valuable historical data on large-scale afforestation and reforestation projects in Europe, especially after a period of conflict. In the next three decades, the United Kingdom plans to plant 3 billion trees to combat global climate change; the European Union aims for the same number by 2030. Prior to the 2022 Russian invasion, Ukraine announced plans to plant 1 billion by 2024, but that goal no longer seems possible; nevertheless, reforestation will be as critical in that country once the invasion ends as it was when the First World War ended more than a century ago. SRSAI offers a historical case study in how to implement and manage such a program with assistance from the international community.