Forest Products
Felling loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) trees with a swing-to-tree feller-buncher. Photo: USDA Forest Service, Forest Operations Research , USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org.
Forest Products Modernization
Forests across the nation are facing serious challenges. Insects, disease, drought, and wildfire all threaten forest health and productivity. There are an estimated 65 to 82 million acres of forest and grassland in need of restoration to lower fire risk and insect and disease impacts.
Forest products modernization is a strategic effort designed to better align our culture, policies, and procedures with current and future forest restoration needs to increase the pace and scale of restoration, improve forest conditions, and improve efficiency of forest product delivery.
The National Forests were originally envisioned as working forests with multiple objectives: to improve and protect the forest, to secure favorable watershed conditions, and to furnish a continuous supply of timber for the use of citizens of the United States. Forest management objectives have evolved and are broadly captured in the USDA Forest Service Strategic Plan FY 2015-2020 goals to sustain our Nation’s Forests and Grasslands and deliver benefits to the public. More specifically, timber sales and other removals of forest products support agency strategic objectives to foster resilient, adaptive ecosystems to mitigate climate change, mitigate wildfire risk, and strengthen communities.
Forest products include materials derived from a forest for commercial and personal use such as lumber, paper, and firewood as well as “special forest products” such as medicinal herbs, fungi, edible fruits and nuts, and other natural products.
Contracts and Permits
The Forest Service sells timber and special forest products on a variety of contract and permit forms based on the complexity and/or value of the sale. Read more about contracts and permits…
Forest Products Measurement
Timber cruising, scaling, volume estimation, and geospatial information supporting the Forest Service’s Forest Product Sales program. Read more about forest products measurement…
Special Forest Products
Products or natural resources from the National Forests that are not the traditional timber and fiber products. Read more about special forest products…
Tree Marking Paint
The National Headquarter's Forest Management Staff provides information, specifications, and meeting notes about tree marking paint. Read more about tree marking paint…
Related
- 2018 Timber Sale Contracts Forms Update
- Forest Products Cut and Sold from the National Forests and Grasslands
- Periodic Timber Sale Accomplishment Reports (PTSAR)
- Forest Equipment Catalog
- Forest Vegetation Simulator
- Wood Innovations
Timber Sale Preparation Process Video
The U.S. Forest Service Timber Sale Preparation Process (The Gate System) A Short Overview is a short narrated video presentation that introduces employees and partners to the Timber Sale gate process as outlined in Forest Service manual 2430 and Forest Service handbook 2409.18.