Meet The U.S. Forest Service “Caring for the Land and Serving People”

Introduction to the Forest Service USFS:  Manages public lands in national forests and grasslands.  Largest forestry research  Provides technical and financial assistance to State and private forestry agencies.

Establishment of USFS  Congress established USFS in  Management of national forests for:  Benefits and multiple uses  Sustained yield of renewable resource

National Forests: America’s Great Outdoors  Size of National Forests = Size of Texas  Opportunities for recreation:  Backpacking  Challenging trails  Enjoying the views  Fishing

“Caring for the Land and Serving People” USFS managers:  Help people share and enjoy the forest  Conserve the environment. USFS mission:  Protection & management locally and internationally  Research

USFS Offices: Ranger District  First point of contact with USFS.  >600 ranger districts  50,000 acres < District size < 1 million acres  Activities include: trail construction campground operation habitat management

USFS Offices: National Forest  155 National Forests & 20 grasslands  Several ranger districts  Forest supervisor is head;  Activities include: District activities Budget allocation District technical support

USFS Offices: Region  The 9 regions include several states.  Regional forester is head.  Activities include: National forest activities Quality operations Guidance for forest plans Budget allocation

USFS Offices: National Level  A.k.a.The Washington Office  The Chief: Head of USFS Reports to Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment in the USDA.  Activities include: Policy & agency direction Budget development with White House Monitors agency activities

The National Forest System  USFS manages National Forest System.  National Forest System: 44 states, Puerto Rico, & the Virgin Islands  U.S. greatest assets: natural resources in these areas

National Forest System: Budget  The appropriated budget: $4.8 billion for the 2006 fiscal year.

USFS Research & Development  Seven research stations  Two quasi-stations  Provides:  scientific & technical knowledge  Conducted through:  Forest & range experimentation stations  Forest Products Laboratory

Research & Development  Major research topics:  Inventory & monitoring of lands  Forest health protection  Management research  Ecology  Social science  2200 employees:  550 scientists  80% of these scientists have doctorate degrees.

State & Private Forestry  USFS cooperates with:  State and local governments  Forest industries  Private landowners  Forest users  The objectives:  Manage, protect, & develop non-Federal forest land  Activities include:  Urban interface fire management  Urban forestry

State & Private Forestry  Forest Health Management  Cooperative Fire Protection  Cooperative Forestry

Administration  USFS provides:  Leadership  Agency business means  Cooperation with human resource programs: Americorps Job Corps Senior Community Service Employment Program Volunteer program  USFS:  Hires & trains employees  Evaluates & promotes  Hires contractors  Acquires office space, equipment, & supplies  Acquires, supports, and maintains technology

International Programs  USFS globally links people and communities  IP strives to protect and manage the world’s forest.  IP works with:  USAID  USDS  EPA  Non-profit organizations  universities

Final Thoughts on USFS  USFS has 30,000 diverse employees.  Numbers rise in the summer.  Vast opportunities for:  students  senior citizens  international visitors  interested volunteers.

How to Contact USFS  “Guide to Your National Forests” for listings  Visit USFS on the web (