About Us

The Northern Region National Forest lands encompass 25 million acres and is spread over 5 states. Included are 12 national forests located within the perimeter of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and Montana; and a national grassland in North Dakota and northwestern South Dakota.

The Region's diversity and expanse of landscape features a vast array of native species in native ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. The boundaries extend from the tall grass prairies of the Dakotas, through high elevation lodgepole pine forests and sagebrush communities of Montana, to old-growth Douglas-fir and hemlock forests of northern Idaho.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW - THE BIG PICTURE

The Forest Service is a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). We care for the Nation’s forest and rangelands. We are leaders in the conservation and wise use of the National Forest System lands. We serve the needs of the people who own them and, in short, we strengthen the Nation’s lands for future generations.

To accomplish this mission, we are organized into several areas, among them: the National Forest System, Research, and State and Private Forestry. We have organized into subject groups which include, land management planning, fire, wilderness, range, wildlife and fish, recreation and minerals to name a few.

We also assist State and local governments, forest industry and other private owners to manage, utilize and protect the forest and forest products.

We operate the world’s largest forest research system. We have several forest product laboratories and experiment stations throughout the nation. Through International Forestry, we exchange information with foreign counties for technology transfer.

Please see the Programs and Projects page for more detailed information about the Forest Service’s Northern Region programs.

NEED MORE DETAILS?

The Forest Service is what is known as a “decentralized agency.” Most decisions about our everyday work are made at places outside our central office. Our central office, otherwise known as “headquarters,” is located in Washington, DC.

The Washington Office supports the Chief of the Forest Service and assists the field offices. The Chief has an Associate Chief and five Deputy Chiefs, each of which have an area of responsibility.

In addition, the Chief is assisted by our Office of Communication Public Affairs Office (PAO) which has experts in public information and public involvement in Forest Service work.

The second level of our organization is made up of nine regions, each led by a Regional Forester. Leslie Weldon is the Regional Forester in the Northern Region. The country is divided into nine Regions which each have an assigned number. (See the above illustration.) The Northern Region is Region One, subsequently the Rocky Mountain Region is Region Two, Intermountain Region is Region 4 and so on. Please see the Washington Office web page for further information or review the above map.

The third level contains the separate National Forests and their respective Supervisor’s Offices. The fourth level involves Ranger Districts of the various Forests. In March, 2004, there are 5,286 employees in the Northern Region. This number grows in the summer with a large number of temporary hires and volunteers. Please see the “Pick a Forest or Grassland” link on each Northern Region web page for more information about our Forests and Districts.

How did we get started?

Visit Our Northern Region History page.

USDA Forest Service - Northern Region
Last Modified: Tuesday, 13 April 2010 at 14:03:03 EDT