Natural Resources
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.
Fire Management
We work to 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.
Clean Water and Fisheries
We work to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic ecosystems which provide clean water and habitat for fish and other animals.
Wilderness
Wilderness: “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man; where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”
Invasive Species
We work to reduce the impacts of invasive plants and pests that threaten forest health.