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Welcome to the Southern Region
The Southern Region of the Forest Service is a dynamic collection of lands that encompasses 13 states and Puerto Rico. Known as Region 8 within the Forest Service, the Southern Region consists of 14 National Forest units and two special units. The Forest Service employs about 250 people at the Region 8 headquarters in Atlanta, and nearly 2,500 throughout the South.
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Find Your Forest
The Southern Region is pretty big, and we want to make sure you can easily find the National Forest website you're looking for! We've got a complete list to help you out, by state and territory!
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Bear Safety
Visiting bear country? Be a good guest while there!
Recent News
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Forest Service seeks applicants for recreation advisory committee
Release Date: Sep 28, 2023
Features
Southern Area a Top Priority for National Wildfire Response
The last time the Southern Area was the top priority nationally was 18 years ago during Hurricane Katrina.
The South is burning. Over 15,700 wildfires have burned 505,179 acres since New Year’s Day 2023. Persistent dry conditions and high temperatures have created the right circumstances for extreme fire behavior at an unexpected time of year.
Musket Balls and Merikins
Hurricane Michael swept through Florida’s Apalachicola National Forest in 2018. Reviewing the aftermath the following spring led to discovering a unique and powerful thread of American history dating back to the War of 1812.