Welcome to the Eastern Region

We emphasize educational and interpretive experiences. We help connect people with natural resources through history and culture. We teach people how to care for their land. Through this, people have a sense of awareness.

Spotlight

Applicants Sought for Recreation Resource Advisory Committee

Milwaukee, WI The US Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill 6 positions on the 11 member Eastern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee (RRAC). The RRAC provides recommendations on recreation fees to the agency for public lands within the Eastern Region.

Nominations for the following positions will be accepted through September 30, 2008. 1) Summer Motorized Recreation, 2) Hunting/Fishing, 3) Outfitters/Guides, 4) Local Environmental Groups, 5) Affected Indian Tribes, 6) Affected Local Governments.

more »

The Eastern Region Celebrates National Get Outdoors Day

The Eastern Region held four successful events, including two signature events, for the first National Get Outdoors Day on June 14, 2008.

Partnering with organizations and agencies such as The Henry Ford, Chapman State Park, Coleman Company, and Fort Snelling State Park, our representatives captured visitors' attention with hands-on demonstrations of hiking and camping techniques, and outdoor recreation activities.

While the purpose of the day was to encourage people to “get outdoors,” it also increased public awareness of the United States Forest Service and the splendor of our National Forests.

more » (PDF; 13 MB)

Forest Service Volunteer Opportunities Are Available

Public involvement plays an important part in managing our national forest lands. The USDA Forest Service Volunteer Program has something for almost everyone: retirees, professionals, housewives, students and young people, as well as service clubs and organizations. If you like people and care about our country's natural resources, the Forest Service needs your time and talents.

To find out how you can volunteer, please contact each Forest, Grassland or Prairie individually. We appreciate your willingness to donate your services.

more »

An Invitation to Ride

On most national forests in the Eastern Region, off-highway vehicles (OHV) are welcome when traveling on designated routes or areas. However, increased use of OHVs has caused resource damage. For this reason, the Travel Management Rule was developed to create a sustainable system of designated routes and areas for increasing numbers of OHV riders.

Each National Forest will provide a Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) that defines the routes developed to provide OHV visitors with some great riding adventures. These MVUMs will be developed by 2009 for each National Forest in the Eastern Region.

Remember to ride responsibly and be good stewards of the land so as to preserve these recreational opportunities for generations to come. For your own safety as well as the protection of our valuable resources, please stay on the trail and check with each national forest before you visit to make sure OHV use is allowed. You can use the drop-down menu at the top of this page to jump to the Eastern Region websites and access their MVUMs.

Midwest Natural Resource Group Takes on Invasive Species

Senior leaders of the Midwest Natural Resource Group have adopted a "Plan for Action for Terrestrial Invasive Species within the Great Lakes Basin." The Plan sets priorities to focus "existing resources....to effectively coordinate inventories, mapping and treatment of terrestrial invasive species for the Great Lakes Basin."

Regional Forester Randy Moore, along with senior executives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Highway Administration, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service and the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, approved the plan at their annual meeting on July 19, 2006.

This multi-agency collaboration will strengthen actions to combat invasive species in the Eastern Region, as well as, contribute towards one of the Forest Service Eastern Region's Courageous Conservation goals of "protecting ecosystems across boundaries."

more »