This excellent report has been professionally converted for accurate flowing-text e-book format reproduction. This report is about the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - who we are, what we do, and what we might be in the future. As the primary forestry agency of the United States, the Forest Service leads our Nation in natural resource management.
Established in 1905, the Forest Service: Manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. Shares responsibility, working in concert with State and local agents, for the stewardship of about 500 million acres of non-Federal rural and urban forests. Is the largest natural resource research organization in the world. Works with partners worldwide to protect global forest resources. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the purpose of the Forest Service—"to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run." As the 16th Chief of this agency, I proudly continue in the same tradition of caring for the land and serving people and invite you to join us in this mission.
To fulfill its mission and manage the national forests, the Forest Service is organized into nine regions. Seven research stations, including the International Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products Laboratory, provide the latest science for sound stewardship decisions. The Forest Service also provides funding and technical assistance to fulfill its role on non-Federal forest lands. In addition, the Forest Service provides international assistance in land stewardship and has its own Law Enforcement and Investigations unit responsible for enforcement of Federal laws and regulations governing national forest lands and resources. Leadership of these mission areas is listed in the rest of this section.
