About Us - Mission
Mission, Motto, Vision, and Guiding Principles
Mission
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain
the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nations
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.
Vision
- We are recognized nationally and internationally
as a leader in caring for the land and serving
people.
- We are a multicultural and diverse organization.
- Employees work in a caring and nurturing environment
where leadership is shared.
- All employees are respected, accepted, and appreciated
for their unique and important contribution to
the mission.
- The work is interesting, challenging, rewarding,
and fun -- more than just a job!
- We are an efficient and productive organization
that excels in achieving its mission.
- Responsibility and accountability for excellence
are shared by employees and partners.
- The American people can count on the Forest
Service to perform.
Guiding Principles
To realize our mission and vision, we follow these
13 guiding principles:
- We use an ecological approach to the multiple-use
management of the National Forests and Grasslands.
- We use the best scientific knowledge in making
decisions and select the most appropriate technologies
in the management of resources.
- We are good neighbors who respect private property
rights.
- We strive for quality and excellence in everything
we do and are sensitive to the effects of our
decisions on people and resources.
- We strive to meet the needs of our customers
in fair, friendly, and open ways.
- We form partnerships to achieve shared goals.
- We promote grassroots participation in our decisions
and activities.
- We value and trust one another and share leadership.
- We value a multicultural organization as essential
to our success.
- We maintain high professional and ethical standards.
- We are responsible and accountable for what
we do.
- We recognize and accept that some conflict is
natural and we strive to deal with it professionally.
- We follow laws, regulations, executive direction,
and congressional intent.
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