Samuel Trask Dana

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Samuel Trask Dana (also Samuel T. Dana or Sam Dana ; born April 21, 1883 , † May 8, 1978 in Alexandria , Virginia ) was one of the most important American forest scientists of the 20th century and was considered the doyen of this branch of science in the USA .

Life

Samuel Trask Dana was one of the first US foresters to receive a university education. He graduated from Yale University with a Master of Forestry degree " summa cum laude " in 1907 and then joined the United States Forest Service . Twelve years later he was named director of research for the agency and served as the Maine State Forest Inspector from 1921 to 1923 . In 1923 he was appointed director of the Northeastern Forest Experiment Station for the Northeastern Region and four years later, in 1927, professor and first dean (until 1951) of the School of Forestry and Conservation at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor , where he worked until 1963.

Dana has worked in a wide variety of forestry fields throughout his career, and is the author of numerous professional articles and a number of important books, including Forestry Education in America Today and Tomorrow (1963; with Evert W. Johnson and Hardy L. Shirley). He was not only concerned with the competent training of young foresters in the United States itself, but also that for skilled workers from less developed countries, especially Latin America , which he promoted as dean in Ann Arbor as much as he could. In addition, he always advocated a holistic view of forest science education and suggested that it be expanded and adapted beyond the actual forestry and administrative tasks. Based on the already existing principle of forest sustainability , this primarily concerned the consideration of forests as ecosystems and environmental protection efforts derived from them . The School of Forestry and Conservation was renamed School of Natural Resources in 1950 (since 1992 School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE)). Dana has also emerged with research on forest history and forest policy , most notably with the book Forest and Range Policy: Its Development in the United States (1956).

In addition, Samuel T. Dana held numerous honorary positions within the American forestry sector, but also beyond. He was president of the American Society of Foresters and, from 1942, also editor-in-chief of its journal of forestry and director of the American Forestry Association (AFA). Dana has received numerous awards. Syracuse University awarded him an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Science) in 1928 . In 1956 the Forest History Society (FHS) named him a " Fellow ". The University of Michigan renamed the "West Medical Building" in 1961 in honor of Dana to the "Samuel T. Dana Building" when the School of Natural Resources moved there. One of the chairs of the SNRE as well as the Samuel Trask Dana Award it bestows are named after him.

Samuel Trask Dana died in Alexandria on May 8, 1978.

Fonts

  • Forestry and community development , Washington 1918
  • What the national forests mean to the water user , Washington 1919
  • as editor: History of activities in the field of natural resources University of Michigan , Ann Arbor 1953
  • Forest and range policy, its development in the United States , New York 1956 (2nd edition, edited and expanded by Sally K. Fairfax et al .., New York 1980, ISBN 0-07-015288-8 )
  • together with Myron Krueger: California lands. Ownership, use, and management , Washington 1958 (Reprinted under the title California lands , New York 1980, ISBN 0-405-11374-9 )
  • with John H. Allison and Russell N. Cunningham: Minnesota lands. Ownership, use, and management of forest and related lands , Washington 1960
  • together with Evert W. Johnson and Hardy L. Shirley: Forestry education in America today and tomorrow , Washington 1963
  • Education and outdoor recreation , Washington 1968

literature

  • WK: Samuel Trask Dana 1883-1978 , in: Allgemeine Forstzeitschrift , 33rd volume, issue 33/34 1978, p. 972a
  • Henry Clepper: A Salute to Samuel T. Dana at 90 , in: Journal of Forestry , Volume 71, Issue 4/1973, pp. 200–202 (3)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Dana, Samuel Trask
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dana, Samuel T .; Dana, Sam
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American forest scientist
DATE OF BIRTH April 21, 1883
DATE OF DEATH May 8, 1978
Place of death Alexandria , Virginia