Obama Administration to hire 20,000 young people for summer work on public lands

WASHINGTON, and SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS, Calif., May 18, 2012 – In response to President Obama's call to expand opportunities for summer employment for young people and connect them with the great outdoors, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley today highlighted summer work opportunities for more than 20,000 young people, ages 15-25, in national forests, national parks, wildlife refuges and other public lands.

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.

US 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 outline readiness for wildfire season

WASHINGTON—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar 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

thinkstock.com

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.

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

Volunteers shine at Sierra National Forest 2011 volunteer awards ceremony

Volunteers have made service part of their daily lives on the Sierra National Forest, echoing the President’s call for more Americans to serve causes that could benefit from their skills and their gift of time.  During a recent awards ceremony, the dedication, commitment and accomplishments of more than 400 individuals and groups were recognized for providing services valued at more than $770,000 to the forest in 2011.

Impact of climate change on forest diseases assessed in Forest Service report

A report being released by the U.S. Forest Service examines the impact of climate change on eight forest diseases and how these pathogens will ultimately affect Western forests.

Air Force Reservists, National Guard, fly to fight wildfires with Forest Service

Flying C-130 Hercules aircraft and equipped with roll-on Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, which dispense retardant, U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard crews have been training around the country to help suppress wildfires this season.

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.