War In The Woods
by Lieutenant John Nores Jr. and James A. Swan, Ph.D.
published by Lyons Press 2010, 200 pages (ISBN 978-1-59921-930-1)
Americans may disagree over the legalization of marijuana, but not when it comes to the pot plantations fast turning once-pristine corners of our public lands into environmentally ravaged war zones. Guarded by armed gangs, who are willing to kill innocent hikers and law enforcement personnel to protect their profits, these illicit wilderness farms pollute and destroy the ecosystems wildlife relies on. Whose jurisdiction is this? Game wardens, the unsung heroes of our national wild lands, are the first line of defense. In War in the Woods, California Game Warden John Nores and James Swan recount in riveting detail the perilous job of eradicating pot plantations. it is a chilling read — and one that finally turns our focus to the issue and the law enforcement teams leading the charge.
Lt. John Nores Jr., a longtime California Fish and Game Warden; is the point man for California Department of Fish and Game's antimarijuana actions in the North coast District. In 2008, he received the medal of valor from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. James A. Swan, PhD has written eight nonfiction books and produced a documentary film, Endangered Species: California Fish and Game Wardens. He is the co-executive producer of "Wild Justice", a forthcoming TV series on game wardens produced by Original Productions for National Geographic that features Nores.Click here for the action-packed book trailer
Reviews:
"As the former Director of the White House Drug Policy Office, I am well aware that drug trafficking organizations are using our nation's public lands to cultivate marijuana and protecting their drug crops with dangeorus booby traps. Brave law enforcement officers across the nation are confronting these traffickers, often at enormous personal risk. In War in the Woods, Lt. John Nores and James Swan describe in riveting detail the perils involved in eradicating marijuana in California. It is a compelling read that illuminates the dark side of criminal marijuana cultivation." -- General Barry McCaffrey
"War in the Woods brings to light the dangers and environmental devastation wreaked by illegal marijuana operations on public lands and puts you in the middle of the action as the 'Thin Green Line,' California's Fish and Game Wardens, fight bravely to protect our citizens and our fragile natural places." -- Assemblyman Jared Huffman, Chair, California Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee
"For three days in 480 B.C., 300 Spartans held off the entire Persian army at Thermopyale and became history’s most-cited example of the advantages of training, equipment and knowledge of the terrain to become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. Today, only 200 California Fish and Game Wardens are fighting to protect America’s public lands from drug dealers looking for their share of the estimated $38.5 billion dollar marijuana business. Today, they’re California’s Spartans, and War in the Woods tells their story in their words. -- Jim Shepherd, Editor/Publisher, The Outdoor Wire (former Director of News, CNN)
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