National News

World-Class USDA Forest Service research facility opens in Colorado

FORT COLLINS, Colorado, August 27, 2010 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today joined Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to formally open a state-of-the-art, energy efficient Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.

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Spotlights

The Invasive Species threat and the Forest Service

The goal of the USDA Forest Service invasive species program is to reduce, minimize, or eliminate the potential for introduction, establishment, spread, and impact of invasive species across all landscapes and ownerships. The Invasive Species Program integrates many divisions of the agency. Learn how America’s hunters and anglers represent an essential stakeholder group in the combating invasive species.

USDA Forest Service Engages in America's Great Outdoors Listening Sessions

The USDA Forest Service is taking part in three more listening sessions this week on America’s Great Outdoors. The sessions -- Aug. 31 in Chicago, Sept. 1 in Fort Pierre, S.D., and Sept. 2 in Bangor, Maine -- are on behalf of President Obama, who believes that Americans must be involved in developing a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century. By listening and joining in on the conversation with senior officials other federal agencies, the Forest Service is learning more about ways communities across America are working to conserve outdoor spaces important to them. Join the conversation.

Read or Download the Forest Service National Road Map for Responding to Climate Change

The National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change is the Forest Service's blueprint for responding to a changing climate and is part of the overall and ongoing effort by the Agency to restore forest and grassland landscapes. One of the measurement criteria of the Forest Service’s roadmap is a scorecard rating system to be used by all national forests and grasslands to gage the success of efforts to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate.

Topics

Forest Service Recovery Act Projects: The Forest Service plays a key role in stimulating the economy by distributing $1.15 billion of American Recovery and Rehabilitation Act funds. So far, more than 700 Forest Service Recovery Act projects have been funded across the nation, with nearly all of those projects underway and more than 96 percent of funds obligated and expended. In one Recovery Act project, Job Corps students have worked to restore Grey Towers National Historic Site. Their efforts are documented, as are many others, with digital images.

Photography and Non-commercial Filming (.DOC): The USDA Forest Service has issued a revised Interim Directive (.DOC) for still photography and non-commercial filming on all National Forest System lands and in designated wilderness areas. The goal of this Interim Directive is to provide clarification for considering proposals for commercial film permits in wilderness areas, and provide a more permissive environment for the issuance of special use permits for commercial filming appropriate in wilderness areas. Contact your local Forest Service offices for more information about Special Use permits.

Climate Change: The Forest Service has several inter-related programs to help forests, grasslands and humans mitigate and adapt to global climate change.

Water: The Forest Service manages the largest single source of water in U.S., with about one-fifth originating from 193 million acres of land.

Bark Beetle: There are forests in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota that are experiencing bark beetle epidemics at a historically unprecedented scale.

Planning Rule: The Forest Service hosted a series of public meetings across the country in April and May 2010 to provide opportunities for public input and dialogue on the development of a new planning rule.

Features

Forest Service Recreation -- Inspiring Passion for the Land

National forests and grasslands provide some of the greatest opportunities for outdoor recreation in the world. Recreation activities are not only fun; they create memories, provide physical challenge, provoke interest, and inspire wonder and awe of the natural world. Recreation contributes greatly to the health of individuals, bonds family and friends, and provides economic benefit to communities. Indeed, outdoor recreation is an essential part of American culture.

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Website Information

Web Survey

As you leave our site, a pop-up window may ask you to complete a survey that will help us improve the Forest Service website. The survey gathers no personal information about you. We hope you will take time to respond!

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