Pacific Northwest Research Station

Forest Service Science Protects Public Health by Forecasting Potency and Path of Smoke.

If you’re a Pacific Northwest Research Station scientist inventorying forests in interior Alaska, then your daily commute at the moment crisscrosses a remote area the size of Arkansas. This vastness—and the fact that much of the 53,500-square-mile initial study area is not reachable by road—means that forest access must often come by air.

From clean water and wildlife habitat to timber and other forest products, recreation, and spiritual and cultural values, healthy natural ecosystems provide a range benefits for people. Increasingly, the value of these “ecosystem services” is being recognized, along with the need to ensure they are available now and into the future. The U.S.

From skiing and hunting to horseback riding and camping, federal lands are key providers of the landscapes and facilities that characterize most Americans’ outdoor recreation experiences.