[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 36, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 36CFR200.3]

[Page 9-10]
 
              TITLE 36--PARKS, FORESTS, AND PUBLIC PROPERTY
 
          CHAPTER II--FOREST SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 200_ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS, AND PROCEDURES--Table of Contents
 
                   Subpart B_Functions and Procedures
 
Sec. 200.3  Forest Service functions.


    (a) Legislative authority. The basic laws authorizing activities of 
the Forest Service are set forth in the U.S.C. in title 7 (Agriculture), 
chapters 14, 17, 33, 55, 59, and 61; title 16 (Conservation), chapters 
2, 3, 4, 5C, 6, 23, 27, 28, 30, 36, and 37; title 29 (Labor), chapter 
17; and title 43 (Public Lands), chapters 22 and 35.
    (b) Work of the Forest Service. Under delegated authority from the 
Secretary of Agriculture, the broad responsibilities of the Forest 
Service are:
    (1) Leadership in forestry. The Forest Service provides overall 
leadership in forest and forest-range conservation, development, and 
use. This involves determination of forestry conditions and 
requirements, and recommendations of policies and programs needed to 
keep the Nation's private and public lands fully productive.
    (2) National Forest System administration. (i) The Forest Service 
administers and manages the National Forest System lands in accordance 
with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of June 12, 1960 (16 U.S.C. 
528-531); the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 
August 17, 1974 (16 U.S.C. 1600-1614); and the National Forest 
Management Act of October 22, 1976 (16 U.S.C. 472a, 476, 500, 513-516, 
521b; 576b, 1600-1602, 1604, 1606, 1608-1614).

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    (ii) The National Forest System comprises about 188 million acres of 
land in the National Forests, National Grasslands, and other areas which 
have been transferred to the Forest Service for administration. On these 
public lands:
    (A) Forestry methods are applied in growing and harvesting timber,
    (B) Forage is scientifically managed for the use of domestic 
livestock whose numbers are kept in balance with the carrying capacity 
of the range,
    (C) Wildlife habitat and species are managed,
    (D) Watersheds are managed to safeguard the water supply and 
stabilize streamflow,
    (E) Recreation resources are managed for public enjoyment and 
benefit,
    (F) Many forms of land and resource use are granted under permit or 
lease, and
    (G) Physical and resource improvements needed to develop, protect, 
and use all resources are built and maintained.
    (3) Cooperative forestry. The Forest Service carries out cooperative 
forestry programs for public benefit through programs initiated by 
State, county, and other Federal agencies in accordance with the 
Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of July 1, 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2101-
2111). These programs are directed at the protection, development, and 
sustained production of all forestry resources, both public and private.
    (4) Forest research. The Forest Service conducts research on 
problems involving protection, development, management, renewal, and 
continuous use of all resources, products, values, and services of 
forest lands in accordance with the Forest and Rangeland Renewable 
Resources Research Act of June 30, 1978 (16 U.S.C. 1641-1647). Research 
is conducted on:
    (i) Forest and range management, including the five basic resources 
of timber, forest soil and water, range forage, wildlife and fish 
habitat, and forest recreation,
    (ii) Forest protection from fire, insects, and disease,
    (iii) Forest products and engineering, and
    (iv) Forest resource economics including forest survey, forest 
economics, and forest products marketing.

[44 FR 37505, June 27, 1979]