Our Vision..."Sustainable
Natural Resources and Communities."
Our Mission..."Connecting people to resources,
ideas, and one another so they can care for forests and sustain
their communities."
The Cooperative Forestry Staff, of the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Forest Service, works with States, private landowners,
and other partners to promote healthy forests and livable communities
throughout the United States. Our programs and partnerships help
private landowners and rural communities care for their forests,
strengthen local economies, and maintain a high quality of life.
There are nearly 500 million acres of non-Federal
forest land in the United States, comprising about 20 percent of
the Nation, and two-thirds of the Nation's forests. Over 50 percent
of the Nation's forests are privately owned. Management practices
on these lands impact the social, economic, and natural environment
for everyone.
In partnership with State forestry agencies, Cooperative
Forestry currently manages a number of programs:
The Forest
Stewardship Program (FSP) and The
Forestland Enhancement Program (FLEP) help private landowners
manage forests to enhance and maintain productivity, health, biodiversity,
soil and water resources, recreation, and aesthetics. FSP helps
landowners develop sustainable management plans. FLEP provides
educational, technical, and financial assistance to help landowners
implement their management objectives.
The Forest
Legacy Program (FLP) protects private forest lands from being
converted to nonforest uses. FLP helps landowners establish conservation
easements on their land.
We are a partnership-driven organization. Federal
funding is provided to States, local governments, and non-profit
organizations to leverage additional resources and fuel innovative
ideas. We work closely with the Forest Service's Urban
& Community Forestry staff, other
units within the Forest Service, and other federal agencies
to enhance and maintain forests across watersheds and ecosystems,
both on private and public land.
Strategic
Plan - programs are guided by a CF-wide
strategic plan.
Performance
and Accountability (PMAS) - CF collects
annual information on program accomplishments.
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