The Cash Value of Environmental History

Stephen J. Pyne argues that environmental historians can offer practical value to communities, particularly in areas such as wildfire management. Although historical records do not always align with the models and tools used by practitioners, he suggests they can still provide guidance by adding meaning, ethical and cultural context, and narrative connections between past events and present challenges. Drawing on Norman Maclean’s Young Men and Fire, Pyne illustrates how storytelling can move beyond data to foster reflection and inform improved practices in wildfire management.