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    Smoky Bear - An Icon For Environmentalism

    In 1944, the federal government unveiled a simple mascot that would soon become an icon for environmentalism: Smokey the Bear. The Smokey the Bear campaign has, hands-down, become one of the most iconic figures in the field of environmentalism. Smokey the Bear has also without a doubt become one of the federal government's most recognizable and thus most successful campaigns ever launched. In fact, the Smokey the Bear campaign-with its well-worn slogan of "Only you can protect forest fires! -has been credited by many analysts and researchers with the widespread suppression of forest fires throughout North America.

    The Smokey the Bear campaign was an immediate success from its initial launch. The Smokey the Bear campaign proved that a massive media campaign could make a palpable impact on the way that people interacted with the national parks system and the outdoors in general. The Smokey the Bear campaign is perhaps the most important and single-handedly successful campaign to ever be launched by the federal government. Why was the Smokey the Bear public campaign so popular? Many point to the allure of the Smokey the Bear campaign to young children. The Smokey the Bear campaign present the image of a friendly bear dressed in an official U.S. National Parks Ranger uniform, complete with rugged brown ranger hat. The Smokey the Bear campaign urged children not to play with matches, and to take great care when enjoying the national parks system and the outdoors.

    The Smokey the Bear campaign was without a doubt the most popular and effective campaign launched by the U.S. federal government, making Smokey the Bear an important environmental icon. In fact, the massive Smokey the Bear campaign in the United States is credited with suppressing the number of forest fires throughout North America. This has helped government at all levels to save millions of dollar each year in rescue and damage costs. However, despite the massive popularity enjoyed by the Smokey the Bear campaign for so many years (well over 50 years, in fact), and the very popular TV spots dedicated to the Smokey the Bear campaign, the Smokey the Bear campaign was actually retired recently. Why is this so?

    Despite years and years of popularity, the Smokey the Bear campaign has been recently retired from the airwaves because many researchers and ecologists have come to a new consensus when it comes to forest fires. While it is true that forest fires can create many dangerous conditions and seem to devour whole ecosystems, many ecologists now believe that most forest ecosystems will benefit greatly from the occasional wildfire. This may seem counterintuitive to many people, but it makes sense when it is understood that many forest ecosystems have basically evolved in relation to the occasional presence of fire. Even though it may indeed seem counterintuitive, it is true that most forest ecosystems need the occasional burn in order to stay healthy. Now, the U.S. National Parks system has reversed its policy once espoused by the massively popular Smokey the Bear campaign.

    Now that ecologists and leaders of the U.S. National Parks system understand the most forests are susceptible to the occasional, and completely normal, forest fire, Smokey the Bear has hung up his brown ranger hat. Although hugely popular and successful for over 50 years, the Smokey the Bear campaign no longer bears the message that the federal government and specifically the U.S. National Park system wants to spread. However, despite this change in policy, it is without a doubt that the Smokey the Bear campaign will be missed by those who were accustomed to seeing the friendly, anthropomorphic forest bear on their TV sets.

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