Resource Management

The Forest Service manages the national forests for many different uses, including recreation, timber products, wilderness, minerals, water, grazing, fish, and wildlife. Our primary goal is to maintain and improve the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests to meet the needs of current and future generations.

• Vegetation Management

  

  Silviculture is the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands. Successful vegetation management ensures that our National Forests are conserved, restored, and made more resilient to climate change. We use many different tools to meet this goal including prescribed fire, timber harvest, and plantings. 

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  Plant-A-Tree Program

• Fire Management

  

  We work to both use fire responsibly to restore forest health and prevent the devastating effects of uncontrolled wildfire. Prescribed burns help return diverse wildlife habitats to the forests, restore fire-dependent species, and return a mosaic of structure, composition, and age to the forests.

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• Clean Water and Fisheries

  

  We work to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic ecosystems which provide clean water and habitat for fish and other animals.

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• Wilderness

  

  Wilderness: “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man; where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”

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• Invasive Species

  

  We work to reduce the impacts of invasive plants and pests that threaten forest health.

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Shared Stewardship

We can accomplish more when everyone works together

Timber Sale Program

Forest management activities, including timber harvesting serve the goal of fostering resilient, adaptive ecosystems to mitigate climate change, mitigate wildfire risk, and strengthen communities.

Timber sales help meet the nation's timber needs as well as protect and restore ecological systems. Balancing the ecological with the economical, timber sales are a part of the Forest Service's multi-use forest management plan for providing the greatest good to local communities.