The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Motto: Caring for the Land and Serving People
The phrase, "CARING FOR THE LAND AND SERVING PEOPLE," captures the Forest Service mission. As set forth in law, the mission is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people: It includes:
•Advocating a conservation ethic in promoting the health, productivity, diversity, and beauty of forests and associated lands.
•Listening to people and responding to their diverse needs in making decisions.
•Protecting and managing the National Forests and Grasslands so they best demonstrate the sustainable multiple-use management concept.
Providing technical and financial assistance to State and private forest landowners, encouraging them to practice good stewardship and quality land management in meeting their specific objectives.
•Providing technical and financial assistance to cities and communities to improve their natural environment by planting trees and caring for their forests.
•Providing international technical assistance and scientific exchanges to sustain and enhance global resources and to encourage quality land management.
•Helping States and communities to wisely use the forests to promote rural economic development and a quality rural environment.
•Developing and providing scientific and technical knowledge aimed at improving our capability to protect, manage, and use forests and rangelands.
•Providing work, training, and education to the unemployed, underemployed, elderly, youth, and disadvantaged in pursuit of our mission.
