USDA Forest Service research and development - caring for the land and serving people

摘要: Total forested area in North America is 677.5 million ha (32.7% of land area), which 17.1% the global forests. U.S forests 303 ha, 4th largest World behind Russian Federation, Brazil and Canada. In 1876, United States Congress created office Special Agent Department Agriculture to assess quality conditions States. 1881, was expanded into Division Forestry. The Forest Reserve Act 1891 authorized withdrawing from public domain as “forest reserves” managed by Interior. 1901, Forestry renamed Bureau Transfer 1905 transferred management forest reserves General Land Office Interior Forestry, henceforth known US Service (http://www.fs.fed.us/aboutus/history/). Presently agency part (USDA). USDA (USDA FS) manages lands, provides assistance privately-owned does research. Major divisions include National System, State Private Research Development (R&D) branches. R&D branch research support for range helps knowledge technology transfer System currently has a system 155 national forests, 20 grasslands, 79 experimental well other special areas, covering more than 193 acres (Adams et al. 2008). FS evolved 30,000 employee that number multiple uses, including recreation, timber, wilderness, minerals, water, grazing, fish, wildlife As fiscal year 2010, total budget authority $5.15 billion, 42% spent fighting fires (http://www.fs.fed.us/aboutus/budget/). mission is: sustain health, diversity, productivity Nation’s grasslands meet needs present future generations. Its motto caring serving people. lead Federal Agency natural resource conservation, leadership protection, management, use forest, rangeland, aquatic ecosystems.