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The following section provides general information related to the agency vision, mission, goals and objectives, as well as the organizational structure of the Forest Service.

Vision: Caring for the Land and Serving People

The phrase, "Caring for the Land and Serving People," captures the Forest Service vision for serving the American people by providing quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept.

Mission: “To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.”

This mission includes:

• Advocating a sustainable land management ethic in promoting the health, productivity, diversity, and beauty of forests and associated lands;
  
• Providing a variety of products to meet the needs of the Nation, including wood, forage, water, and energy;
  
• Listening to people and responding to their diverse needs in making natural resource management decisions;
  
• Managing and protecting National Forests and Grasslands so they best demonstrate the sustainable multiple-use management concept;
  
• Providing technical and financial assistance to State and private forest landowners, encouraging them to practice good stewardship and quality land management in meeting their specific objectives;
  
• Providing technical and financial assistance to cities and communities to improve their natural environment by protecting and enhancing “green spaces” and caring for their forests;
  
• Providing international technical assistance and scientific exchanges to sustain and enhance global resources and to encourage quality land management;
  
• Helping States and communities to wisely use forests to promote rural economic development and a high quality rural environment;
  
• Developing and providing scientific and technical knowledge aimed at improving our capability to protect, manage, and use forests and rangelands; and
  
• Providing work, training, and education to the unemployed, underemployed, elderly, youth, and disadvantaged in pursuit of our mission.

Goals and Objectives

In compliance with the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993, the Forest Service is committed to integrating the development of its budget with the Forest Service Strategic Plan. It is important to understand the goals and objectives of the Strategic Plan when evaluating the funding and legislative proposals in the budget. The following summarizes the four major goals of the agency that will facilitate the accomplishment of our mission.

Goal -- Ecosystem Health

Promote ecosystem health and conservation using a collaborative approach to sustain the Nation’s forests, grasslands, and watersheds.

Objectives

• Improve and protect watershed conditions to provide the water quality and quantity and the soil productivity necessary to support ecological functions and intended beneficial water uses.
  
• Provide ecological conditions to sustain viable populations of native and desired non-native species and to achieve objectives for wildlife management indicator species (MIS). These species reflect the effects of changes to a habitat type for other species that live in or use the same habitat. By monitoring MIS, the anticipated effect of changes on threatened and endangered species can be readily determined.
  
• Increase the amount of forests and grasslands restored to or maintained in a healthy condition with reduced risk and damage from fires, insects, diseases, and invasive species.

Goal -- Multiple Benefits To People

Provide a variety of uses, values, products, and services for present and future generations by managing within the capability of sustainable ecosystems.

Objectives

• Improve the capability of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to provide desired sustainable levels of uses, values, products, and services.
  
• Improve the capability of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to provide diverse, high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities.
  
• Improve the capability of wilderness and protected areas to sustain a desired range of benefits and values.
  
• Increase accessibility to a diversity of people and members of under-served and low-income populations to the full range of uses, values, products, and services.
  
• Improve delivery of services to urban communities.

Goal -- Scientific and Technical Assistance

Develop and use the best scientific information available to deliver technical and community assistance and to support ecological, economic, and social sustainability.

Objectives

• Better assist in building the capacity of Tribal governments, rural communities, and private landowners to adapt to economic, environmental, and social change related to natural resources.
  
• Increase the effectiveness of scientific, developmental, and technical information delivered to domestic and international interests.
  
• Improve the knowledge base provided through research, inventory, and monitoring to enhance scientific understanding of ecosystems, including human uses, to support decision-making and sustainable management of the Nation’s forests and grasslands.
  
• Broaden the participation of less traditional research groups in research and technical assistance programs.

Goal -- Effective Public Service

Ensure the acquisition and use of an appropriate corporate infrastructure to enable the efficient delivery of a variety of uses.

Objectives

• Improve financial management to achieve fiscal accountability.
  
• Improve the safety and economy of USDA Forest Service roads, trails, facilities, and operations and provide greater security for the public and employees.
  
• Improve and integrate informational systems, data structures, and information management processes to support cost-efficient program delivery.
  
• Improve the skills, diversity, and productivity of the workforce.
  
• Ensure equal opportunity in employment practices.
  
• Provide appropriate access to National Forest System lands and ensure nondiscrimination in the delivery of all USDA Forest Service programs.
  
  The Forest Service is engaged in performance budgeting for FY 2004. The agency focus emphasizes those results that our constituents expect for their investment. The Forest Service will continue to improve the alignment of financial, human capital, and technological resources with the mission of sustaining the Nation’s forests and grasslands for the benefit of current and future generations.