U.S. Forest Service
U.S. Forest Service
Our Mission
To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
What We Do
Established in 1905, the U.S. Forest Service is the largest natural resource research organization in the world.USFS manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands, shares responsibility with State and local agents for the stewardship of about 500 million acres of non-Federal rural and urban forests, and works with partners worldwide to protect global forest resources.
To fulfill its mission and manage the national forests, the Forest Service is organized into nine geographical regions with a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. 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.
USFS Programs and Initiatives
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© Shutterstock (Forest Legacy Program Featured Image)
Forest Legacy Program
Created by Congress in 1990, the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program supports states' efforts to protect environmentally sensitive, privately owned forestland from conversion to non-forest uses.
Forest Legacy Program Videos
Moose Mountain Reservation, NH
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