Forest Management

A critical part of the Forest Service mission is protecting and managing the national forests and grasslands so they best demonstrate the sustainable multiple-use management concept. The Forest Service is charged with managing natural resources in a way that best serves the multiple needs of a growing and changing nation. The agency was initially established to ensure a renewable supply of timber and a steady source of clean water and minerals. 

The Intermountain Region includes all of Nevada and Utah, southern Idaho, western Wyoming and much smaller proportions of California and Colorado. This area is very complex and has great variability in topography, climate, and geology. Natural resources include a wide variety of flora and fauna, as well as anything that exists without the assistance of mankind. 

Most National Forests within the Region are on mountains and plateaus that stand well above the surrounding lowlands, valleys and plains. These are sometimes referred to as “mountain islands”. Because of this, and differences in geology, soils, climate and geography, the plants on one mountain area may be very different from those found on another nearby mountain. Program areas within the Land and Resource Management scope include Botany, Hydrology, Lands, Wildlife, Fisheries, Range, Timber and Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER).  

Timber Management

Timber management is an important component of productive forest resource management. 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. Guidance for the use of these forms can be found in Forest Service Handbook (FSH) 2409.18, Chapter 50, Sections 53 and 54.

• Accomplishment Reports for Periodic Timber Sales
• Annual Cut and Sold Report

Forest Service Advertised Timber Sales

To seek out if a local national forest in the Intermountain Region is advertising for a timber sale:

• Go to the offices webpage.
• Select the forest link for their website.
• Select in the top menu 'Managing the Land" then select "Resource Management".
• Look for any active advertising timber sale on the page or select a timber sale page link for more information on the timber program.

Also, there is more information on the national Timber Sales on National Forests website.

Vegetation Management

The Intermountain Region’s Vegetation Classification, Mapping, and Quantitative Inventory Program supports sustaining and restoring the integrity, biodiversity, and productivity of ecosystems throughout the Region. A mid-level mapping methodology was developed to capture existing vegetation type, tree and shrub canopy cover, and tree size using automated, systematic procedures to map the 12 Intermountain Region National Forests with minimal bias. 

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