USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region

About Us

The Eastern Region is the most geographically, ecologically, and socially diverse area in the country. Regional boundaries contain 20 states with over 43% of the nation's population.

Unlike Western forests that were carved from virgin territory, Eastern forests were salvaged from overdeveloped land that had eroded into wastelands from excessive farming, logging, and mining. Once called "the lands nobody wanted," they are becoming "the lands everyone wants," in high demand for a full spectrum of uses in the most heavily populated quadrant of the country.

The national forests of the Eastern Region have truly become "islands of green in a sea of people."

Our Vision

In 2005, the U.S. Forest Service celebrated the legacy of its first century of service. At that time, leaders in the Eastern Region asked "what will our legacy for the next century be?" This led to the development of a vision for the Region, which is "Courageous Conservation," a sustainable future, a legacy of restoration. Our vision has five audacious goals:

• Protect ecosystems across boundaries
• Connect citizens to the land
• Walk the talk for sustainability
• Revolutionize effectiveness and efficiency
• Be an employer of choice

The vision is being incorporated into the Eastern Region's program of work and will shape our practices and the way we complete work on-the-ground now and into the future.
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History

The first Eastern Region was Region 7. Created in 1914, R7 included National Forests in all East Coast states and the entire area west to Arkansas excluding the Great Lakes area. By 1918, Region 7 included all of the southern National Forests extending as far west as Oklahoma. At this time, the Regions, then called Districts*, operated little more than as an adjunct to the office of the Chief Forester in DC. (* Districts became known as Regions in the 1930's).
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Niche Statement

Islands of Green in a Sea of People: The Eastern Region is the most geographically, ecologically, and socially diverse area in the country. Regional boundaries contain 20 states with over 43% of the nation's population.
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Points of Pride

America's Outdoors, Honor Awards, Eastern and Southern Regions University, Forest Plan Revisions, Student Career Experience Program, Urban Connections, Urban Tree House.
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Special Programs

In addition to the traditional organizational structure, the Eastern Region has several special groups that cross functional and geographic boundaries.
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USDA Forest Service - Eastern Region
Last modified: Monday, 15 September 2008
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9