Colorado Roadless

Agriculture Secretary and Colorado Governor release final Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado Roadless Rule

DENVER, May 2, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper today announced the release of the final Environmental Impact Statement for the final Colorado Roadless Rule. The preferred alternative identified in the impact statement provides conservation for 4.2 million acres of National Forest roadless areas within Colorado.  Today’s announcement is the culmination of a seven-year collaborative process between the US Forest Service and State of Colorado.

What they're saying: USDA's Colorado Roadless Rule receives widespread support

The preferred alternative identified in the impact statement reflects the views and concerns of thousands of people through five public comment periods resulting in more than 310,000 comments. The final Colorado Roadless rule will be finalized a minimum of 30 days after the Final Environmental Impact Statement is published in the Federal Register.

Roadless Website - Colorado Rule

US Forest Service employees honored as “Unsung Heroes”

The Organization of Professional Employees of USDA has honored two members of the U.S. Forest Service as Unsung Heroes for demonstrating a high level of service to the public through their heroic efforts.

U.S. Agencies Join Forces with First Lady and Dr. Biden to Honor and Support Military Families

YORKTOWN, Va., May 15, 2012 – As part of the Joining Forces initiative to support our nation’s service members and their families, several U.S. government agencies will announce an annual pass to active duty service members and their dependents, granting free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation in the coming years.

Secretaries Vilsack, Salazar announce readiness for wildfire season

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2012—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today outlined the federal government's readiness for the wildland fire season to ensure protection for communities and restoration of forests and public lands across the country. The Secretaries were joined by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell and National Predictive Services Program Manager of the National Interagency Fire Center Ed Delgado.

Planning Rule News

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USDA publishes final rule to restore the nation’s forests through science and collaboration

WASHINGTON— The planning rule provides the framework for U.S. Forest Service land management plans for the agency’s 155 forests and 20 grasslands.  It updates planning procedures that have been in place since 1982, creating a modern planning process that reflects the latest science and knowledge of how to create and implement effective land management plans.

Planning Rule Website

Faces of the Forest: Michael Keller
Michael is a research physical scientist with the Forest Service, but right now he’s working with International Programs on a project called, “Sustainable Landscapes” funded through the United States Agency for International Development.

Seeing football through urban trees

When most people think about football they’re not likely imagining urban forests—or planting trees for that matter. But that’s exactly what the U.S. Forest Service and Green Bay Packers  through their First Downs for Trees program, wants you to think: Plant trees and lots of them.

This travel season take a drive through the volcanoes

Beginning at the northern end, the byway travels around Crater Lake and through the Umpqua and Fremont-Winema National Forests then heads south through the Rogue River- Siskiyou and Klamath National Forests.

Spring brings oohs and aahs – wildflower season begins to bloom across national forests and grasslands

As spring begins across the nation, fields are turning green – and pastel pink, flaming scarlet, electric orange, brilliant yellow, deep violet and florescent blue.   Wildflowers are abloom!  The Forest Service has released an updated wildflower map with 317 viewing areas to choose from on America’s national forests and grasslands. 

North Carolina forest products producers get marketing help from Recovery Act funds

A Forest Service Recovery Act grant to the Land-of-Sky Regional Council to implement the Western North Carolina Forest Products Cooperative Marketing Project has provided the momentum to help local businesses expand and diversify.

Falcon nests put temporary halt to rock wall climbing in Washington

Climbers are being asked to temporarily avoid a popular rock wall on the western slopes of Washington’s Cascade Mountains because it’s become a nesting spot for peregrine falcons.

Removal of invasive tree improves health of American Samoa forests

Removal of destructive invasive trees is an ongoing challenge for the Forest Service. What folks might not realize is that this challenge of protecting native forests extends all the way to the South Pacific.