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

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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: Meet Christina Harper
Christina Harper is a forester trainee in an internship program for the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky and northern Tennessee.  She “stumbled upon” forestry as a career while attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

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

Forest Service lines up 500 jobs for young conservationists

When President Obama recently called on federal agencies to help young people find more work in the great outdoors, the U.S. Forest Service – with 193 million acres of prime outdoor space —responded quickly with jobs for hundreds of underserved youths. Read more »

Two hundred and fifty feet up with only a rope to get down

Rappellers are firefighters who are delivered to remote and inaccessible wildfires by means of dropping down a rope from helicopters hovering 250 feet high. Earlier this month over 50 veteran Forest Service rappellers throughout the West prepared for a new fire season with training and recertification classes in Oregon and Idaho. Read more »

Grazing partners play vital role in Nebraska rangelands conservation

On any given day during grazing season, Black Angus cattle amble across areas of the Oglala National Grassland in northwestern Nebraska. Yet they play a bigger role than just grazing for their daily meal.  They help support the local economy, are the lifeline of a family business and have a role in a healthy rangeland ecosystem.

US Forest Service Presents Prestigious Award to 88 Year-Old Environmental Leader

More and more folks live fulfilling lives well into their senior years but it’s especially noteworthy when an octogenarian is still working on environmental conservation issues like Florence LaRiviere.

The slippery slope of ramps

To many of locals in western North Carolina, they’re called wild leeks.  Some call them ransoms and still others call them wood garlic because of their pungent smell. Nevertheless, ecologists simply call them ramps. 

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.

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: Meet Christina Harper
Christina Harper is a forester trainee in an internship program for the Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky and northern Tennessee.  She “stumbled upon” forestry as a career while attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.

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

Forest Service lines up 500 jobs for young conservationists

When President Obama recently called on federal agencies to help young people find more work in the great outdoors, the U.S. Forest Service – with 193 million acres of prime outdoor space —responded quickly with jobs for hundreds of underserved youths. Read more »

Two hundred and fifty feet up with only a rope to get down

Rappellers are firefighters who are delivered to remote and inaccessible wildfires by means of dropping down a rope from helicopters hovering 250 feet high. Earlier this month over 50 veteran Forest Service rappellers throughout the West prepared for a new fire season with training and recertification classes in Oregon and Idaho. Read more »

Grazing partners play vital role in Nebraska rangelands conservation

On any given day during grazing season, Black Angus cattle amble across areas of the Oglala National Grassland in northwestern Nebraska. Yet they play a bigger role than just grazing for their daily meal.  They help support the local economy, are the lifeline of a family business and have a role in a healthy rangeland ecosystem.

US Forest Service Presents Prestigious Award to 88 Year-Old Environmental Leader

More and more folks live fulfilling lives well into their senior years but it’s especially noteworthy when an octogenarian is still working on environmental conservation issues like Florence LaRiviere.

The slippery slope of ramps

To many of locals in western North Carolina, they’re called wild leeks.  Some call them ransoms and still others call them wood garlic because of their pungent smell. Nevertheless, ecologists simply call them ramps. 

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.