What the Forest Service Does 
The Forest Service has Federal 
responsibility for national 
leadership in forestry. This includes 
top level participation in setting 
national priorities, formulating 
programs, and establishing Federal 
policies that relate to our natural 
environment. 
However, Forest Service 
responsibilities and interests go 
beyond forested lands. Forests and 
related rangeland, grassland, 
brushland, and alpine areas, rich in 
minerals, water, and wildlife 
habitat illustrate the wide scope of 
natural resources involved in 
forestry. Forestry also involves less 
tangible values such as scenery, air 
and water quality, recreation, open 
space, environmental quality, 
economic strength, and social well- 
being. 
To ensure an effective 
interrelationship among goals and 
policies, the Forest Service seeks 
to: 
@ Promote and achieve a pattern of 
~ natural resource usage that will 
best meet the needs of people 
now and in the future. 
e Protect and improve the quality 
of air, water, soil, and natural 
beauty. 
@ Help to preserve and enhance 
the quality of “open space’”’ in 
urban and community areas. 
@ Generate forestry opportunities 
to accelerate rural Community 
growth. 
@ Encourage the growth and 
development of forestry-based 
enterprises that readily respond 
to consumers’ changing needs. 
@ Seek optimum forest 
landownership patterns. 
@ Improve the welfare of the 
underprivileged. 
@ Develop human resources 
through a variety of special 
programs such as the Young 
Adult Conservation Corps. 
@ Involve the public in forestry 
policy and program formulation. 
@ Encourage the development of 
forestry throughout the world. 
@ Expand public understanding of 
environmental conservation. 
@ Develop and make available a 
firm scientific base for the 
advancement of forestry. 
The Forest Service realizes the 
importance of being responsive 
and alert to the changing needs of 
a dynamic society. Sensitivity to 
problems and flexibility in solving 
them are basic to successful 
_ leadership in the preservation of 
our natural environment. 
The Forest Service needs a 
competent staff of technical 
support personnel including 
technicians, aids, skilled workers, 
clerical personnel, and laborers to 
assist management in all phases of 
its work. 
Since many Forests are in 
mountainous country, which 
becomes snow-covered and 
inaccessible in the winter, much of 
the technical support work must be 
done during the other three 
seasons. Tree planting work is 
usually done in the spring or fall. 
Fire control work is largely 
confined to the “fire season,” the 
period of greatest fire danger. In 
the Western States, this is during 
the summer; and in the Eastern 
States, this is in early spring and late 
fall. 
During the summer months, the 
supportive staff also works on flood 
control; disease and insect control; 
brush disposal; timber stand 
improvement; and construction 
and maintenance of roads, trails, 
