THE FOREST SERVICE 
AND ITS WORK... 
The Forest Service, oldest of the Government con- 
servation agencies, began as an integral part of the 
Department of Agriculture in 1876 with the appoint- 
ment of a special forestry agent. By 1881, there 
existed a Division of Forestry which expanded to a 
total of 12 persons by July 1, 1898. In 1905, the 
new Bureau of Forestry became custodian of 56 
million acres of “forest reserves” in the West, and 
the Bureau was renamed the Forest Service. The 
forest reserves were renamed National Forests there- 
after. The agency has evolved from passive cus- 
todian to active manager of one-twelfth of the land 
area of the United States; has developed extensive 
cooperative work with States and private forest land 
owners and with forest product processors; and 
carries on an extensive forestry research program. 
The Forest Service has the Federal responsibility 
for national leadership in forestry. This includes top- 
level participation in setting national priorities, 
formulating programs, and establishing the pattern 
of Federal policies that relate to man and his natural 
environment. 
Forest Service responsibilities and interests go 
beyond forested lands. Forests, rangelands, grass- 
lands, brushlands, alpine areas, minerals, water, and 
wildlife habitat illustrate the variety of natural re- 
sources involved in the scope of forestry. Forestry 
also involves less tangible values such as scenery, 
air and water quality, recreation, open space, en- 
vironmental quality, economic strength, and social 
well-being. ~ 
In our complex society there must be an inter- 
relationship among objectives, policies, and goals. 
The Forest Service seeks to foster this by: 
® Promoting and achieving a pattern of natural re- 
source uses that will best meet the needs of 
people now and in the future. 
e@ Protecting and improving the quality of air, water, 
soil, and natural beauty. 
e@ Helping to preserve and enhance the quality of 
“open space” in urban and community areas. 
@ Generating forestry opportunities to accelerate 
rural community growth. 
@ Encouraging the growth and development of 
forestry-based enterprises that readily respond to 
consumers’ changing needs. 
