Editing United States Forest Service (section)

== Major divisions ==

=== National Forest System ===
[[File:106mm Recoilless Rifle.jpg|thumb|Forest Service team uses a 106&nbsp;mm [[recoilless rifle]] for [[avalanche control]] at [[Mammoth Mountain]] in the [[Inyo National Forest]] in [[California]]. Note the [[Minarets (California)|Minarets]] in background.]]

The {{convert|193|e6acre|km2}} of public land that are managed as national forests and [[grassland]]s are collectively known as the [[National forest (United States)|National Forest]] System. These lands are located in 44 states, Puerto Rico, and the [[Virgin Islands]] and comprise about 9% of the total land area in the United States. The lands are organized into 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands. The mission of the National Forest System is to protect and manage the forest lands so they best demonstrate the sustainable multiple-use management concept, using an ecological approach, to meet the diverse needs of people.

Wildfire management and suppression is a significant subdivision of the National Forest System. [[Wildfire suppression]] and prevention programs comprise nearly 50% of the Forest Service’s overall budget and, during the peak fire season, it employs approximately 10,000-15,000 wildland firefighters. Wildland firefighters are often deployed on an [[National Interagency Fire Center|interagency basis]] alongside firefighters from other federal and state land management agencies often with support from local and county structure fire departments. Additionally, Forest Service employees who are not normally full time firefighters are regularly called upon to respond to wildfire incidents in administrative, support, security, and even direct firefighting roles. For both primary fire and supplementary employees, fire assignments usually last 2–3 weeks at a time for each individual employee during which they typically work 16 hours on and eight hours off while sleeping in tents. After an assignment ends, the employee is granted three days of R&R before either returning to their day job or going on another assignment.

=== Law Enforcement & Investigations ===
[[File:USA - Department of Agriculture Forest Service Patch.png|thumb|upright=0.6|Patch of the Law Enforcement & Investigations unit]]

'''U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations''' (LEI), headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]], is a [[List of law enforcement agencies|federal law enforcement agency]] of the U.S. government. It is responsible for enforcement of federal laws and regulations governing national forest lands and resources. All [[law enforcement officer]]s and [[special agent]]s receive their training through [[Federal Law Enforcement Training Center]] (FLETC).

Operations are divided into two major functional areas:
* Law enforcement: uniformed, high-visibility patrol officers
* Investigations: [[special agent]]s who conduct more complex investigations including drug trafficking, large scale wildfire/arson, and theft/damage of natural resources and government property

[[File:United States Forest Service Horse patrol.jpg|thumb|left|A horse patrol of the Law Enforcement & Investigations unit]]

Uniformed Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) enforce federal laws and regulations governing national forest lands and resources. LEOs also enforce some or all state laws on National Forest Lands. As part of that mission, LEOs carry firearms, defensive equipment, make arrests, execute [[search warrant]]s, complete reports, and testify in court. They establish a regular and recurring presence on a vast amount of public lands, roads, and recreation sites. The primary focus of their jobs is the protection of natural resources, protection of Forest Service employees and the protection of visitors. To cover the vast and varied terrain under their jurisdiction, they use modified 4x4 pickup trucks, [[Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor]]s, special service [[SUV]]s, horses, [[Police dog|K-9 units]], helicopters, [[snowmobile]]s, ATVs, ROVs, dirt bikes, and boats.

[[Special Agents]] are criminal investigators who plan and conduct investigations concerning possible violations of criminal and administrative provisions of the Forest Service and other statutes under the [[United States Code]]. Special agents are normally plainclothes officers who carry concealed firearms, and other defensive equipment, make arrests, carry out complex criminal investigations, present cases for prosecution to [[U.S. Attorneys]], and prepare investigative reports. All field agents are required to travel a great deal and usually maintain a case load of ten to fifteen ongoing criminal investigations at one time. Criminal investigators also conduct internal and civil claim investigations. An example of the latter would be large scale wildfire liability cases in which the government is seeking civil restitution for major damage to National Forest Lands.

As of 2025, 8 special agents and 1 K9 of the LEI have been killed in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, US |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/3949-united-states-department-of-agriculture-forest-service-law-enforcement-and-investigations-us-government |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref>

LEI is also responsible for the oversight, training, and administration of the Forest Protection Officer (FPO) program. FPOs are unarmed, non-law enforcement, field going employees who have been granted the authority to enforce class B misdemeanors within Title 36, Part 261 of the Code of Federal Regulations (the day to day laws primarily governing the use of forests by the public). They do this by writing citations and mandatory federal court appearances. They must volunteer to become FPOs, pass an additional background check performed by LEI, and attend an initial training plus yearly recertification to maintain their authority. FPO is a “collateral duty” one performs in addition to their primary job; because of this, the majority of FPOs are Recreation Technicians, Wilderness Rangers, or Fire Prevention Patrol Technicians, but the program is open to any field going employee who meets the requirements. Since they are unarmed and not LEOs, FPOs do not engage in enforcement contacts in situations that have a high probability for violence including those involving excessive alcohol intoxication, illegal substances, domestic disputes, assault, gang activity, etc instead disengaging and calling law enforcement immediately in such situations. 

=== State, Private and Tribal Forestry ===
The goal of the State and Private Forestry program is to assist with financial and technical assistance to private landowners, state agencies, tribes, and community resource managers. It provides assistance by helping sustain the United States' urban and rural forests and their associated communities from wildland fires, insects, disease, and [[Invasive species|invasive]] organisms.<ref name=deCalesta>{{cite book | last1 = deCalesta| first1 = David S. | last2 = Eckley | first2 = Michael C. | title = Deer Management for Forest Landowners and Managers | publisher = CRC Press | date = 2019 | pages = 153 | language = en }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition|url = http://ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/05jun/97-905.pdf|author= Jasper Womach}}</ref> Approximately 537 staff are employed in the program and is administered through National Forest System regions and the Northeastern Area of the United States.<ref name=deCalesta/>

=== Research and development ===
[[File:USFS PNW lab.jpg|thumb|right|The U.S. Forest Service [[R&D]] lab in [[Olympia, Washington|Olympia]], Washington]]

The [[research and development]] (R&D) arm of the Forest Service works to improve the health and use of the United States' forests and [[grassland]]s. Research has been part of the Forest Service mission since the agency's inception in 1905. Today, Forest Service researchers work in a range of biological, physical, and social science fields to promote sustainable management of United States' diverse forests and rangelands. Research employs about 550 scientists and several hundred technical and support staff, located at 67 sites throughout the United States and in [[Puerto Rico]]. Discovery and technology development and transfer is carried out through seven research stations.

Research focuses on informing policy and land management decisions and includes addressing [[Invasive species|invasive]] insects, degraded [[river ecosystem]]s, or sustainable ways to harvest forest products. The researchers work independently and with a range of partners (formerly through a '''National Partnership Office'''),<ref>{{cite web |title=Partnerships |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/working-with-us/partnerships |website=US Forest Service |access-date=28 June 2024 |language=en |date=1 February 2016}}</ref> including other agencies, academia, nonprofit groups, and industry. The information and technology produced through basic and applied science programs is available to the public for its benefit and use.

In addition to the Research Stations, the USFS R&D branch also leads several National Centers such as the [[National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation]].

=== International programs ===
The Forest Service plays a key role in formulating policy and coordinating U.S. support for the protection and sound management of the world's forest resources. It works closely with other agencies such as [[United States Agency for International Development|USAID]], the [[U.S. Department of State|State Department]], and the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]], as well as with nonprofit development organizations, wildlife organizations, universities, and international assistance organizations. The Forest Service's international work serves to link people and communities striving to protect and manage forests throughout the world. The program also promotes [[sustainable land management]] overseas and brings important technologies and innovations back to the United States. The program focuses on conserving key natural resource in cooperation with countries across the world.