THE U.S. FOREST
SERVICE AND
FORESTRY IN THE
UNITED STATES
International Visitor
Program Orientation
DID YOU KNOW?
 The Forest Service has more recreation
visitor days than any other US Government
agency.
 The Forest Service employs thousands of
scientists as researchers, experts in
fisheries and as wildlife biologists.
 85% of the water west of the Mississippi
flows from Forest Service lands.

Forested Land in the United States
 History of Land Use & Development

History of the Forest Service
 The Forest Service Today
 Current and Emerging Issues
 International Programs

Forested Land in the United
States
 History of Land Use & Development

History of the Forest Service

The Forest Service Today
 Current & Emerging Issues
 International Programs
FORESTS OF THE UNITED STATES
 The United States has the 4th largest forest
estate of any nation—exceeded by Russian
Federation, Brazil and Canada
 The United States has 8% of the world’s
forests.
 The United States has about 300 million
hectares of forest (33% of the land area)
FORESTED & NON-FORESTED LAND IN
THE UNITED STATES
Other types of
lands 67% or
612 million
hectares
Forested
land33%
or 300
million
hectares
Total land base of the United States—912 million
hectares.
TOTAL FOREST OWNERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES
Other
Federal
Agencies
9% or 26
million
hectares
States, counties &
municipals9% or
26 million hectares
Private forest
lands 58%
or 174 million
hectares
Bureau of Land
Management4% or 14
million hectares
Forest
Service
20% or
60 million
hectares
Interior Department
Other Federal Agencies
Agriculture Department
Total forested land in the United States—300 million hectares.
FOREST OWNERSHIP IN THE
WESTERN UNITED STATES
FOREST OWNERSHIP IN THE
EASTERN UNITED STATES
Private
lands31% or 45
million hectares
Federal
and State
lands
17% or 26
million
hectares
Federal and
State
lands69%
or 100
million
hectares
145 million hectares of forested land
West of the Mississippi River
Private lands 83% or
129 million hectares
155 million hectares of forested land East
of the Mississippi River
LEVELS OF PROTECTION FOR LANDS IN THE US
IUCN Protected Area Types
US Protected Area Types
I. STRICT NATURE RESERVE/WILDERNESS
AREA: Managed for science or wilderness
protection.
Our National Wilderness Preservation System,
No travel zones in National Parks, Some
Research Natural Areas & Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern.
II. NATIONAL PARK: Managed for ecosystem
protection and recreation.
National Parks, Some State Parks and
Wilderness Areas
III. NATURAL MONUMENT: Managed for
conservation of specific natural or cultural
features.
National Monuments, National Landmarks
(natural and cultural), Historic Preservation Sites
of many categories- both federal and state.
IV. HABITAT/SPECIES MANAGEMENT AREA:
Managed for conservation through management
intervention
US FWS National Wildlife Refuges - especially
non-wilderness portions and Waterfowl
Production Areas, some Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern
V. PROTECTED LANDSCAPE/SEASCAPE:
Managed for landscape/seascape protection and
recreation.
National Seashores/ Lakeshores, National
Scenic Areas, Scenic By-Ways, National Trails,
National Recreation Areas, Scenic portions of
Wild and Scenic Rivers, State & Local Govt.
Open Space Programs etc.
VI. MANAGED RESOURCE PROTECTED
AREA: Managed for sustainable use of natural
ecosystems
Multiple use portions of National Forests or BLM
Districts, National Grasslands, State Forests,
USFS Research and Experimental Areas.

Forest Land in the United States
 History of Land Use & Development

History of the Forest Service

The Forest Service Today
 Current & Emerging Issues
 International Programs
HISTORY OF LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT (1800Forested Area (in million hectares)
1900s)
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1700
1800 Year 1900
2000
 Forests converted to farmland as majority of US
population was farmers.
 US farmers also cleared forests to provide wood for
fencing to contain livestock. By 1850, enough fencing to
circle the earth 120 times.
 Building of major US cities consumed large amounts of
timber.
Trends in Timber Removal By Ownership
Amount of timber removed
(in billion board feet)
16
14
12
10
8
National Forest
Lands
6
Private Forest
Lands
4
2
0
1953
1963
1977
1987
1997
HISTORY OF LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT:
Deforestation and the Call for Action by 1900
 There was a recognition of land abuse and
deforestation
 Forests were increasingly seen as a national
asset in need of protection from:
• Logging
• Massive wildfires
• Farm clearing and grazing
• Wildlife depletion
• Watershed erosion
 Conservation or “pressure groups” began to
form including:
• American Forestry Association
• Sierra Club
• Society of American Foresters
• National Audubon Society
 Land in the United States
 Forest Land in the United States
 History of Land Use & Development
 History of the Forest Service

Politics of Forestry
 Current & Emerging Issues
 The Forest Service Today
1905—FOREST SERVICE ESTABLISHED
 The Forest Service was established to
manage national forests for protection of
watersheds and to produce timber.
 The mission has evolved and broadened to
include recreation and grazing
. The role of the Agency has shifted
dramatically due to changing social, economic,
political expectations as well as the evolution
of forestry as a discipline.
Managing national forests for benefits,
multiple uses, sustained yield of renewable
resources
MANAGEMENT PRIORITIES HAVE EVOLVED:
1900s
2000
Timber production  Conservation
Fire suppression

Prescribed burning
Road building

Watershed protection
 Land in the United States
 Forest Land in the United States
 History of Land Use & Development
 History of the Forest Service
 The Forest Service Today
 Current and Emerging Issues
WHAT IS THE FOREST
SERVICE TODAY?
A decentralized organization of about 35,000
employees with responsibility to :
 Directly manage 77 million hectares (191 million
acres) of forest and rangeland in the US for wide
range of social and environmental benefits
 Contribute to the management of an additional 150
million hectares (360 million acres) of privately-owned
land in the US.
 Coordinate, through International Programs, FS
efforts to improve forest management and preserve
biodiversity worldwide.
Federal Land Management Agencies
A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FOREST SERVICE
A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FOREST SERVICE
Provides scientific and technical knowledge through the work of:
 Research Stations—eight stations across the US, including:
 Forest Products Laboratory
 International Institute for Tropical Forestry (Puerto Rico)
A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FOREST SERVICE
There are 155 forests and 20 grasslands in the United States (77 million ha./191 million
acres) across 9 NFS regions in the US. The Forest Service is responsible for:
 Watershed management
 Recreation
 Timber management
 Wilderness and protected areas
 Habitat, forest, grassland management
A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FOREST SERVICE
Cooperates with private landowners, tribal governments, other local government agencies, State
and local organizations, on:
 Assistance to small-scale, private landowners
 Indigenous-tribal natural resource conservation programs
 Urban forestry
 Conservation education
 Watershed management
 Fire management
 Forest insect and disease protection
A LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE FOREST SERVICE
On behalf of the Chief of the FS, coordinates international work by engaging
Research, National Forest System and State & Private Forestry in these
activities:
 Technical Cooperation
 Global Natural Resource Policy
 Disaster Response and Preparedness
 Land in the United States
 Forest Land in the United States
 History of Land Use & Development
 History of the Forest Service
 The Forest Service Today
 Current and Emerging Issues
 International Programs
CURRENT AND EMERGING ISSUES:
The “4 Threats” of the early 21st Century
1.
Wildfire Management and Ecosystem
Restoration

2.
3.
4.
Historical fire suppression resulted in increased
undergrowth and high density of trees. Areas close
to human settlement pose a risk to human health,
safety, and property.
Invasive Species

All ownerships are threatened by 4,500 invasive
species— spreading at an accelerated rate,
threatening biodiversity and forest health.
Habitat Fragmentation

Accelerating urban expansion is fragmenting both
forest acreage and ownership, with significant
ecological and management implications.
Unmanaged Recreation

Increased recreation use results in undesireable
resource impacts and exceed the ability of
managers to address them.
CURRENT AND EMERGING ISSUES:
Logging – Domestic and International
 Harvest on National Forests remains very
controversial. Through the use of harvest
treatments, Forest Service trying to combat forest
pest risks and mitigate catastrophic fires.
 Logging on private lands is also controversial
because in some cases over-harvesting is taking
place. Private practices are regulated primarily by
the States.
 Internationally, Forest Service works with partners
to promote Reduced Impact Logging (RIL) and
Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).
 Work with NGO partners, industry, other nations,
and intergovernmental organizations to implement
policies reducing illegal timber and trade (i.e.. the
President’s Initiative Against Illegal Logging).
 Land in the United States
 Forest Land in the United States
 History of Land Use & Development
 History of the Forest Service
 The Forest Service Today
 Current and Emerging Issues
 International Programs