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Visitor Center
About the USFS
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Forest Service employees strive to be courteous, helpful, and safe. We try to serve you as best we can.
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WHAT IS THE FOREST SERVICE?
The
US Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
is a Federal agency that manages national forests and national grass-lands. The Forest Service was established by
Congress
in 1905 to provide quality water and timber for the Nation's benefit. Over the years, the public has expanded the list of what they want from national forests and grasslands. Congress responded by directing the Forest Service to manage national forests for additional multiple uses and benefits and for the sustained yield of renewable resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood, and recreation. Multiple use means managing resources under the best combination of uses to benefit the American people while ensuring the productivity of the land and protecting the quality of the environment.
The mission of the Forest Service is best summarized by its watchword, "Caring for the Land and Serving People."
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National Forests are wonderful places for all types of recreation. The Forest Service helps make sure areas are preserved for varied uses.
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WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL FORESTS?
National forests are America's Great Outdoors. They encompass 191 million acres (77.3 million hectares) of land, which is an area equivalent to the size of Texas. National forests provide opportunities for recreation in open spaces and natural environments. With more and more people living in urban areas, national forests are becoming more important and valuable to Americans. People enjoy a wide variety of activities on national forests, including backpacking in remote, unroaded wilderness areas, mastering an all-terrain vehicle over a challenging trail, enjoying the views along a scenic byway, or fishing in a great trout stream, to mention just a few.
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National Forests are our national treasures. The Forest Service works to keep them in their most natural and beautiful state through careful management.
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WHERE DO THE IDAHO PANHANDLE NATIONAL FORESTS FIT IN?
The National Forest System consists of nine regions. The regions are subdivided into national forests, which are in turn subdivided into ranger districts.
The Idaho Panhandle National Forests are located in the
Northern Region,
also referred to as Region 1. This region includes northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and portions of northwestern South Dakota and eastern Washington. It includes 13 national forests encompassing roughly 25 million acres. The regional headquarters is in Missoula, Montana.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
The Forest Service invites the American public, as owners of the National Forest System lands, to participate in a wide range of agency-sponsored activities, projects and programs.
Your involvement can take many forms - as a volunteer, perhaps, or as a partner. If your club or organization is looking for a worthwhile project to sponsor, ask for a list of activities at your local
ranger station or national forest headquarters.
If you are interested in the management of the national forests, we encourage your participation and comments in the long-range planning process. The agency prepares many documents, such as Environmental Impact Statements(EIS) and Environmental Assessments(EA) to evaluate proposed projects. You are invited to review these documents and contribute your
opinion
either in writing or at public meetings.
The Forest Service welcomes your interest and involvement in its programs. We look forward to seeing you!
RELATED SITES
Meet the Forest Service
A detailed description of what the Forest Service is and what it does for you.
Forest Service Customer Service
The Forest Service is devoted to customer service. This is the national level customer service page.
Conversations with America
Customer satisfaction public meetings and two-way communication efforts between the public and the government.
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