Logo of the U.S. Forest Service
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Flag of the U.S. Forest Service
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | February 1, 1905 |
| Preceding agency |
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| Jurisdiction | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters | Sidney R. Yates Building 1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, D.C. |
| Employees | c. 35,000 (FY16) 28,330 Permanent 4,488 Seasonal FY08 |
| Annual budget | $5.806 billion (FY08) |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | U.S. Department of Agriculture |
| Website | www |
The United States Forest Service (USFS) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres (780,000 km2). Major divisions of the agency include the National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Business Operations, and the Research and Development branch. Managing approximately 25% of federal lands, it is the only major national land agency that is outside the U.S. Department of the Interior.
History
The concept of the National Forests was born from Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation group, Boone and Crockett Club, due to concerns regarding Yellowstone National Park beginning as early as 1875.
In 1876, Congress formed the office of Special Agent in the Department
of Agriculture to assess the quality and conditions of forests in the
United States. Franklin B. Hough was appointed the head of the office. In 1881, the office was expanded into the newly formed Division of Forestry. The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 authorized withdrawing land from the public domain as "forest reserves," managed by the Department of the Interior. In 1901, the Division of Forestry was renamed the Bureau of Forestry. The Transfer Act of 1905 transferred the management of forest reserves from the General Land Office of the Interior Department to the Bureau of Forestry, henceforth known as the United States Forest Service. Gifford Pinchot was the first United States Chief Forester in the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.
Significant federal legislation affecting the Forest Service includes the Weeks Act of 1911, the Multiple Use – Sustained Yield Act of 1960, P.L. 86-517; the Wilderness Act, P.L. 88-577; the National Forest Management Act, P.L. 94-588; the National Environmental Policy Act, P.L. 91-190; the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, P.L. 95-313; and the Forest and Rangelands Renewable Resources Planning Act, P.L. 95-307.
In February 2009, the Government Accountability Office
evaluated whether the Forest Service should be moved from the
Department of Agriculture to the Department of the Interior, which
already includes the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, managing some 438,000,000 acres (1,770,000 km2) of public land.
Organization
Overview
As
of 2009, the Forest Service has a total budget authority of $5.5
billion, of which 42% is spent fighting fires. The Forest Service
employs 34,250 employees in 750 locations, including 10,050
firefighters, 737 law enforcement personnel, and 500 scientists.
The mission of the Forest Service is "To sustain the health,
diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to
meet the needs of present and future generations."
Its motto is "Caring for the land and serving people." As the lead
federal agency in natural resource conservation, the US Forest Service
provides leadership in the protection, management, and use of the
nation's forest, rangeland, and aquatic ecosystems. The agency's
ecosystem approach to management integrates ecological, economic, and
social factors to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment to
meet current and future needs. Through implementation of land and
resource management plans, the agency ensures sustainable ecosystems by
restoring and maintaining species diversity and ecological productivity
that helps provide recreation, water, timber, minerals, fish, wildlife,
wilderness, and aesthetic values for current and future generations of
people.
The everyday work of the Forest Service balances resource
extraction, resource protection, and providing recreation. The work
includes managing 193,000,000 acres (780,000 km2) of national forest and grasslands, including 59,000,000 acres (240,000 km2) of roadless areas;
14,077 recreation sites; 143,346 miles (230,693 km) of trails; 374,883
miles (603,316 km) of roads; and the harvesting of 1.5 billion trees per
year. Further, the Forest Service fought fires on 2,996,000 acres (12,120 km2) of land in 2007.
The Forest Service organization includes ranger districts,
national forests, regions, research stations and research work units and
the Northeastern Area Office for State and Private Forestry. Each level
has responsibility for a variety of functions.
National Places
The
Chief of the Forest Service is a career federal employee who oversees
the entire agency. The Chief reports to the Under Secretary for Natural
Resources and Environment in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),
an appointee of the President confirmed by the Senate. The Chief's staff
provides broad policy and direction for the agency, works with the
Administration to develop a budget to submit to Congress, provides
information to Congress on accomplishments, and monitors activities of
the agency. There are five deputy chiefs for the following areas:
National Forest System, State and Private Forestry, Research and
Development, Business Operations, and Finance.
Research stations and research work units
The Forest Products Laboratory, in Madison, Wisconsin.
The Forest Service Research and Development deputy area includes five research stations, the Forest Products Laboratory, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry,
in Puerto Rico. Station directors, like regional foresters, report to
the Chief. Research stations include Northern, Pacific Northwest,
Pacific Southwest, Rocky Mountain, and Southern. There are 92 research
work units located at 67 sites throughout the United States. there are
80 Experimental Forests and Ranges that have been established
progressively since 1908; many sites are more than 50 years old. The
system provides places for long-term science and management studies in
major vegetation types of the 195 million acres (790,000 km2) of public land administered by the Forest Service. Individual sites range from 47 to 22,500 ha in size.
Operations of Experimental Forests and Ranges are directed by
local research teams for the individual sites, by Research Stations for
the regions in which they are located, and at the level of the Forest
Service.
Major themes in research at the Experimental Forests and Ranges
includes:
develop of systems for managing and restoring forests, range lands, and
watersheds; investigate the workings of forest and stream ecosystems;
characterize plant and animal communities; observe and interpret
long-term environmental change and many other themes.
Regions
Map of the nine regions
There are nine regions in the USDA Forest Service; numbered 1 through 10 (Region 7 was eliminated
in 1965 when the current Eastern Region was created from the former Eastern and
North Central regions). Each encompasses a broad geographic area and is headed by a regional
forester who reports directly to the Chief. The regional forester has
broad responsibility for coordinating activities among the various
forests within the region, for providing overall leadership for regional
natural resource and social programs, and for coordinated regional land
use planning.
- Northern Region: based in Missoula, Montana, the Northern Region (R1) covers six states (Montana, Northern Idaho, North Dakota, Northwestern South Dakota, Northeast Washington, and Northwest Wyoming), twelve National Forests and one National Grassland.
- Rocky Mountain: based in Golden, Colorado, the Rocky Mountain Region (R2) covers five states (Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and most of Wyoming and South Dakota), sixteen National Forests and seven National Grasslands.
- Southwestern: based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Southwestern Region (R3) covers two states (New Mexico and Arizona) and eleven National Forests.
- Intermountain: based in Ogden, Utah, the Intermountain Region (R4) covers four states (Southern Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Western Wyoming), twelve national forests.
- Pacific Southwest: based in Vallejo, California, The Pacific Southwest Region (R5) covers two states (California and Hawaii), eighteen National Forests and one Management Unit.
- Pacific Northwest: based in Portland, Oregon the Pacific Northwest Region (R6) covers two states (Washington and Oregon), seventeen National Forests and one National Scenic Area.
- Southern: based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Southern Region (R8) covers thirteen states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia; and Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), and thirty-four National Forests.
- Eastern: based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Eastern Region (R9) covers twenty states (Maine, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, and New Jersey), seventeen National Forests, one Grassland and America's Outdoors Center for Conservation, Recreation, and Resources.
- Alaska: based in Juneau, Alaska, the Alaska Region (R10) covers one state (Alaska), and two National Forests.
National Forest or Grassland
The Forest Service oversees 155 national forests and 20 grasslands.
Each administrative unit typically comprises several ranger districts,
under the overall direction of a forest supervisor. Within the
supervisor's office, the staff coordinates activities among districts,
allocates the budget, and provides technical support to each district.
Forest supervisors are line officers and report to regional foresters.
Ranger District
The
Forest Service has over 600 ranger districts. Each district has a staff
of 10 to 100 people under the direction of a district ranger, a line
officer who reports to a forest supervisor. The districts vary in size
from 50,000 acres (200 km2) to more than 1 million acres (4,000 km2).
Most on-the-ground activities occur on ranger districts, including
trail construction and maintenance, operation of campgrounds, and
management of vegetation and wildlife habitat.
Major divisions
Law Enforcement & Investigations
Patch of the Law Enforcement & Investigations unit
A horse patrol of the Law Enforcement & Investigations unit
The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations unit (LEI), headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a federal law enforcement agency
of the U.S. government. It is responsible for enforcement of federal
laws and regulations governing national forest lands and resources. All
Law Enforcement Officers and Special Agents Receive their training
through Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).
Operations are divided into two major functional areas:
- Law enforcement: uniformed, high-visibility enforcement of laws
- Investigations: special agents who investigate crimes against property, visitors, and employees
Uniformed Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) enforce federal laws and
regulations governing national forest lands and resources. LEOs also
enforce some or all state laws on National Forest Lands. As part of that
mission, LEOs carry firearms, defensive equipment, make arrests,
execute search warrants,
complete reports, and testify in court. They establish a regular and
recurring presence on a vast amount of public lands, roads, and
recreation sites. The primary focus of their jobs is the protection of
natural resources, protection of Forest Service employees and the
protection of visitors. To cover the vast and varied terrain under their
jurisdiction, they use Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, special service SUVs, horses, K-9 units, helicopters, snowmobiles, dirt bikes, and boats.
Special Agents
are criminal investigators who plan and conduct investigations
concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions
of the Forest Service and other statutes under the United States Code.
Special agents are normally plainclothes officers who carry concealed
firearms, and other defensive equipment, make arrests, carry out complex
criminal investigations, present cases for prosecution to U.S. Attorneys,
and prepare investigative reports. All field agents are required to
travel a great deal and usually maintain a case load of ten to fifteen
ongoing criminal investigations at one time. Criminal investigators
occasionally conduct internal and civil claim investigations.
National Forest System
Forest Service team uses a 106 mm Recoilless Rifle for avalanche control at Mammoth Mountain in the Inyo National Forest in California. Note the Minarets in background.
The 193 million acres (780,000 km2) of public land that are managed as national forests and grasslands are collectively known as the National Forest System. These lands are located in 44 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands
and comprise about 9% of the total land area in the United States. The
lands are organized into 155 national forests and 20 national
grasslands. The mission of the National Forest System is to protect and
manage the forest lands so they best demonstrate the sustainable
multiple-use management concept, using an ecological approach, to meet
the diverse needs of people.
State and Private Forestry
The
mission of the State and Private Forestry program is to provide
technical and financial assistance to private landowners, state
agencies, tribes, and community resource managers to help sustain the
United States' urban and rural forests and to protect communities and
the environment from wildland fires, insects, disease, and invasive
plants. The program employs approximately 537 staff located at 17 sites
throughout the country. The delivery of the State and Private Forestry
program is carried out by eight National Forest System regions and the
Northeastern Area.
Research and development
The research and development
(R&D) arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest
Service works to improve the health and use of the United States'
forests and grasslands.
Research has been part of the Forest Service mission since the agency's
inception in 1905. Today, Forest Service researchers work in a range of
biological, physical, and social science fields to promote sustainable
management of United States' diverse forests and rangelands. Research
employs about 550 scientists and several hundred technical and support
staff, located at 67 sites throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico. Discovery and technology development and transfer is carried out through seven research stations.
Research focuses on informing policy and land management decisions and includes addressing invasive insects, degraded river ecosystems,
or sustainable ways to harvest forest products. The researchers work
independently and with a range of partners, including other agencies,
academia, nonprofit groups, and industry. The information and technology
produced through basic and applied science programs is available to the
public for its benefit and use.
In addition to the Research Stations, the USFS R&D branch also leads several National Centers such as the National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation.
International programs
The
Forest Service plays a key role in formulating policy and coordinating
U.S. support for the protection and sound management of the world's
forest resources. It works closely with other agencies such as USAID, the State Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency,
as well as with nonprofit development organizations, wildlife
organizations, universities, and international assistance organizations.
The Forest Service's international work serves to link people and
communities striving to protect and manage forests throughout the world.
The program also promotes sustainable land management
overseas and brings important technologies and innovations back to the
United States. The program focuses on conserving key natural resource in
cooperation with countries across the world.
Activities
More than 80% of the 193 million acres (780,000 km2)
of land managed by the United States Forest Service is in the western
states. This map shows USFS lands as a percentage of total land area in
each state.
Although a large volume of timber is logged every year, not all National Forests are entirely forested. There are tidewater glaciers in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska and ski areas such as Alta, Utah in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. In addition, the Forest Service is responsible for managing National Grasslands in the midwest. Furthermore, areas designated as wilderness by acts of Congress, prohibit logging, mining, road and building construction and land leases for purposes of farming and or livestock grazing.
Since 1978, several Presidents have directed the USFS to administer National Monuments inside of preexisting National Forests.
- Admiralty Island National Monument – Alaska
- Giant Sequoia National Monument – California
- Misty Fjords National Monument – Alaska
- Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument – Washington
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument – Oregon
- Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument – California (jointly with the Bureau of Land Management)
The Forest Service also manages Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford, Pennsylvania, the home and estate of its first Chief, Gifford Pinchot.
Fighting fires
Smokey Bear poster
In August 1944, to reduce the number of forest fires, the Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council began distributing fire education posters featuring a black bear. The poster campaign was a success; the black bear would later be named "Smokey Bear",
and would, for decades, be the "spokesbear" for the Forest Service.
Smokey Bear has appeared in innumerable TV commercials; his popular
catch phrase, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires", is one of the most
widely recognized slogans in the United States. A recent study found
that 95% of the people surveyed could complete the phrase when given the
first few words.
In September 2000, the Departments of Agriculture and the
Interior developed a plan to respond to the fires of 2000, to reduce the
impacts of these wildland fires on rural communities, and to ensure
sufficient firefighting resources in the future. The report is entitled
"Managing the Impacts of Wildfire on Communities and the Environment: A
Report to the President In Response to the Wildfires of 2000"—The
National Fire Plan for short. The National Fire Plan continues to be an
integral part of the Forest Service today. The following are important
operational features of the National Fire Plan:
- Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy: The 1995 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy and the subsequent 2001 Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy act as the foundation of the National Fire Plan.
- Basic Premise of the National Fire Plan: Investing now in an optimal firefighting force, hazardous fuels reduction, and overall community protection will provide for immediate protection and future cost savings.
- Funding: Initially (2001), the National Fire Plan provided for an additional $1,100,994,000 for the Forest Service for a total wildland fire management budget of $1,910,193,000. In 2008, the total amount for the Forest Service in wildland fire management (not including emergency fire suppression funding) is $1,974,276,000.
In August 2014, Tom Vilsack, the Secretary of Agriculture, announced
that the agency will have to put $400 to $500 million in wildfire
prevention projects on hold because funding for firefighting is running
low as the fiscal year ends. The decision is meant to preserve resources
for fighting active fires burning in California, Oregon, Washington and
Idaho. Politicians of both parties have indicated that they believe the
current funding structure is broken, but they have not agreed on steps
to fix the funding allocation.
Popular culture
Lassie with Robert Bray as U.S. Forest Ranger Corey Stuart
The U.S. Forest Service achieved widespread awareness during the
1960s, as it became the setting for the long running classic TV show Lassie, with storylines focusing on Lassie's adventures with various forest rangers.
The iconic collie's association with the Forest Service led to Lassie receiving numerous awards and citations from the U.S. Senate
and the Department of Agriculture, and was partly responsible for a
bill regarding soil and water pollution that was signed into law in
early 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson, which was dubbed by some as "The Lassie Program".
Controversies
The history of the Forest Service has been fraught with controversy,
as various interests and national values have grappled with the
appropriate management of the many resources within the forests. These
values and resources include grazing, timber, mining, recreation, wildlife habitat, and wilderness.
Because of continuing development elsewhere, the large size of National
Forests have made them de facto wildlife reserves for a number of rare
and common species. In recent decades, the importance of mature forest
for the spotted owl and a number of other species led to great changes in timber harvest levels.
In the 1990s, the agency was involved in scandal when it
illegally provided surplus military aircraft to private contractors for
use as airtankers.
Another controversial issue is the policy on road building within
the National Forests. In 1999, President Clinton ordered a temporary
moratorium on new road construction in the National Forests to "assess
their ecological, economic, and social values and to evaluate long-term
options for their management."
Five and half years later, the Bush administration replaced this with a
system where each state could petition the Forest Service to open
forests in their territory to road building.
Some years the agency actually loses money on its timber sales.
A 2017 draft report describing the legal basis which provides
federal land managers a scope of decision making authority exceeding
that of state fish and game departments has proven unexpectedly
controversial.
In 2018 the Forest Service is reprimanded by the 4th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals. The Service had issued permits for the Atlantic Coast
Pipeline to build through parts of the George Washington and
Monongahela National Forests and a right of way across the Appalachian
Trail - in violation of both the National Forest Management Act and the
National Environmental Policy Act.
