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National News

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A picture of a cabin settled in a dense forest with a family preparing for a picnic at a picnic table in front of the cabin.

Washington meeting kicks off series of discussions on proposed Planning Rule

The U.S. Forest Service hosted a national public forum March 10 in Washington, D.C., on the content of the agency's proposed planning rule. Additional meetings are scheduled in several locations across the U.S. to help the public understand the content of the proposed rule. Official comments will not be solicited at the meetings, as comments must be submitted in writing so that they may be made available to the public. The comment period is open until May 16, 2010.

A picture of five young adults that are part of the Central California Consortium.

Youth group contributes to the Planning Rule process

The Central California Consortium, a Forest Service environmental education, minority outreach and recruitment program that serves as a bridge between the USDA Forest Service, underserved areas and community partners has helped to produce environmental change. Over the past year this organization of young adults attended planning rule public sessions, followed developing issues, and then provided valuable input of their own. Through their diligence and proactive engagement, some of their concerns have made it into the draft Planning Rule.

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack signs a proclamation March 2, 2011 to kick off the centennial celebration of the Weeks Act. The landmark piece of environmental legislation led to the creation of nearly 20 million acres of new national forests in the eastern U.S. Other ceremony participants included from left, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman, Rep. Jim Moran (Va.8th District) and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.

Centennial celebration of Weeks Act begins

The Weeks Act is one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation in American history with a 100-year old legacy that still shapes natural resource conservation achievements today. Besides providing significant economic and environmental benefits, it has ensured that all Americans have access to some of the most beautiful places in our country. For more, see the Weeks Act web site.

Centennial of Weeks Act Proclamation

Picture on the left: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack signs a proclamation March 2, 2011 to kick off the centennial celebration of the Weeks Act. The landmark piece of environmental legislation led to the creation of nearly 20 million acres of new national forests in the eastern U.S. Other ceremony participants included from left, USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman, Rep. Jim Moran (Va.8th District) and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.

News Release: US Forest Service Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Weeks Act

New software puts forest ecology in public hands

WASHINGTON, March 10, 2011 - The U.S. Forest Service and its partners released this morning the newest version of their free i-Tree software suite, designed to quantify the benefits of trees and assist communities in gaining support and funding for the trees in their parks, schoolyards and neighborhoods.

A picture of large rocks covered with lichen.

New knowledge of lichens may help set pollution standards nationwide

WASHINGTON, March 7, 2011 - A new U.S. Forest Service study is the first of its kind to establish how much nitrogen lichens can tolerate -- strongly indicating that the small plant may prove to be a natural barometer for excessive pollution.

Faces of the Forest: Meet wilderness ranger Tim Lydon

Tim Lydon leads a small team in an areas of Alaska that includes more than 800,000 acres of wilderness. The job is something he relishes, from the solitude along the quiet waters of the Tracy Arms-Ford Terror to the bustle of tourists visiting the Juneau area on cruise ships.

A picture of the Green Fire movie project. Text on the image says Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our time.

U.S. Forest Service, Partners, to Premiere New Documentary on Aldo Leopold’s Legacy

The U.S. Forest Service has partnered with the Aldo Leopold Foundation and the Center for Humans and Nature in the first feature-length, high-definition documentary about the legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold.

Agency helping Chiricahua leopard frogs population grow

More than 1,700 Chiricahua leopard frogs and tadpoles were released across the Tonto National Forest as part of an eight-year effort to grow the frog population and eventually remove the Chiricahua from the threatened species list. To date, more than 10,000 frogs were released by an interagency task for that includes the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Phoenix Zoo Conservation Center.

Videos

USDA Asian Longhorned Beetle Eradication Program

Smokejumpers are highly trained, skilled, and experienced wild land firefighters. When Forest Service smokejumpers aren’t fighting wildfires, the agency calls on them to use their tree climbing skills to complete a variety of natural resource management projects, such as harvesting pine cones or constructing owl nesting boxes.

Moose Mountain Reservation in New Hampshire

Follow the Blonquist family, third-generation ranchers, as they describe entering into a conservation easement with the Forest Legacy Program that both protects their ranch and allows them to be part of a bigger conservation effort east of Park City. Six Feathers Ranch has been protected under the Forest Legacy Program since 2005.

Shades of Green: Working on the Forest

From the perspective of supervisors to technicians and specialists, these hard-working Forest Service employees give you their side of working on the largest forest in the national forest system. From district rangers and geologists, to recreation managers and wilderness kayak rangers, you see a perspective of the Tongass from a different point of view.

Spotlights

International Year of Forests

During 2011, the U.S. Forest Service – in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters will host or coordinate many activities and create a national campaign. A comprehensive website at www.celebrateforests.com provides a community toolkit to support celebrations across the country as well as a list of national events and resources to aid organizations and families nationwide.

Natural Inquirer takes on climate change research

U.S. Forest Service scientists are putting the wonders of climate change into the hands of middle school students through the latest edition of the Natural Inquirer, a science education journal that showcases in-depth scientific research in a format for young people.

Topics

Planning Rule Jobs Climate Change Water Bark Beetle

Planning Rule: The collaborative development of a new planning rule has been in full-swing since the publication of the Notice of Intent in December 2009. The Forest Service has received more than 26,000 written comments on the notice, more than 300 blog comments and hosted more than 40 public meetings throughout the country. The agency is currently finalizing the proposed rule with an expected publication date in early 2011. Upon publication, the Forest Service will offer a formal comment period and will host additional public meetings and collaborative opportunities for the public to discuss the rule.

Jobs: The Forest Service has 705 Recovery Act projects funded across the nation. Private sector jobs created by these projects are supporting small and minority-owned businesses and helping revitalize rural economies. Recovery Act projects provide multiple resource benefits including healthy ecosystems; reduced fire risk; clean abundant water; safe accessible recreation opportunities; energy-efficient facilities; and technology to convert wood to clean energy on federal, as well as state, private, and tribal owed lands.

Climate Change: The National Roadmap for Responding to Climate Change is the Forest Service's blueprint for responding to a changing climate and is part of the overall and ongoing effort by the Agency to restore forest and grassland landscapes. One of the measurement criteria of the Forest Service’s roadmap is a scorecard rating system to be used by all national forests and grasslands to gage the success of efforts to mitigate and adapt to a changing climate.

Water: People all over the world are organizing events in celebration of World Water Day 2011. This event is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of water. This year’s theme, Water for cities: Responding to the urban challenge, aims to build public awareness in protecting water resources around the world by engaging governments, organizations and communities. More than 80 events have been posted on the World Water Day events map.

Bark Beetle: Across six states of the interior west, over 17.5 million acres of forested lands are infested by bark beetles which pose a serious health and safety threat to forest visitors, residents and employees. The Forest Service is taking a strategic and science-based response to this infestation to ensure the forests of the interior west provide healthy watersheds, stimulate local economies, are resilient to a changing climate and are restored ecologically over time.

Welcome to the USDA Forest Service

We are entrusted with 193 million acres of forests and grasslands. It’s a big task, but one that we take seriously. We are dedicated to restore and enhance landscapes, protect and enhance water resources, develop climate change resiliency and help create jobs that will sustain communities.

Chief Tom Tidwell