International Programs
1099 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 273-4695
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![United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20090114042007im_/http://www.fs.fed.us/wo-resources/images/logos/usda-fs-shield.gif)
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International Programs: About Us
The USDA Forest
Service International Programs promotes sustainable forest management
and biodiversity conservation internationally. By linking the skills
of the field-based staff of the USDA
Forest Service with partners overseas to address the most critical
forestry issues and concerns. International
Programs regularly taps into the agency's wide range of expertise.
Wildlife biologists, forest economists, hydrologists, disaster and
fire management specialists, and policy makers are among those who
comprise the staff of over thirty thousand employees. |
![Willdlife in Southern Africa](images/gazelle2.jpg) |
Since international cooperation is necessary to sustain the ecological
and commercial viability of global forest resources and to conserve
biodiversity, most of our work is done in collaboration with other
organizations. Our partners include other government agencies, such
as the United States
Agency for International Development and
Foreign Agriculture Service; the World
Bank and United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, non-government
organizations, such as Ducks
Unlimited and The
Nature Conservancy, and universities.
The United States benefits from our work
overseas. Innovative technologies are brought back to the country,
cross boundary environmental problems are addressed, and opportunities
to hone USDA
Forest Service skills are increased. Lastly,
strengthened international ties lead to mutual aid, as illustrated
by assistance from Mexico, Canada, Australia and Israel who assisted
with the devastating 2000 fire season in the western region of the
United States
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![Fire and Aviation](images/fire.jpg) |
International Programs has three
main staff units: Technical
Cooperation, Policy, and
Disaster
Assistance Support Program (DASP). Both Technical Cooperation
and DASP work closely with United
States Agency for International Development, although the
latter coordinates primarily with that agency's Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance. |
Technical Cooperation,
specifically, develops and manages natural resource projects
overseas on a wide range of topics (i.e. fire management and
forest health). DASP trains and mobilizes personnel domestically
to respond and mitigate foreign disasters, such as the floods
in South Africa. Finally, International Programs's policy unit
is actively involved in sustainability roundtables and international
fora, which ensures that US position on global forest policies
and agreements reflect the best interests of the country. |
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The International Programs
website has further information on our staff units as well as on
our current international activities. Navigate our website to:
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