1.
What is the US Forest Service International Programs?
The US Forest Service International Programs staff promotes
sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation
internationally. By linking the skills of the field-based
staff of the US Forest Service with partners overseas,
the most critical forestry issues and concerns are addressed.
Navigate our website and learn more about International
Programs.
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2.
Where can I get tips on how to explore this website?
For more in-depth inquiry into International Programs,
visit our site map or our
main search page.
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3.
Why is the Forest Service working internationally?
We work internationally to:
- Improve
management in some of the world's most threatened
forests including forests in the Amazon
Basin, the Congo,
Russia and Indonesia;
- Protect
U.S. forests from invasive
species that are damaging or could damage our
forests;
- Recover
the habitat
of the world's endangered species-including the Siberian
Tiger, the Monarch butterfly and the Panda;
- Develop
policies
wordwide to promote forest sustainability;
- Level
the playing field in international trade through reducing
the amount of underpriced timber on the world market,
- Bring
important research knowledge and technology gained
overseas back to the U.S., and
- Provide
humanitarian response
support to disasters around the world. Past responses
include support to disatsers in Kosovo, the Rwanda
genocide and current teams in Iraq.
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4.
I am interested in current forest related activities
in China. Does this website offer information about
US Forest Service work in that region?
The US Forest Service lends its expertise on projects
across several countries in North
America, Latin
America and the Caribbean, Asia
and the Pacific, Africa,
and Europe,
Eurasia, Russia and the Middle East. From the homepage,
simply navigate your way through the Around
the Globe section until you reach the specific country
page, where current activities are listed. In order
to access the China
country page, select the Asia
& Pacific region from the Around
the Globe page and then choose China.
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5.
My forestry project in Bolivia needs technical assistance
in watershed assessment; can International Programs
help me locate expertise in this area or just in forestry?
International Programs collaborates on overseas projects,
which already have funding, on an array of topics that
involve natural resources and forest management, such
as: watershed management, fire management, forest monitoring,
invasive species, etc. 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. For a detailed list of topics and related
activities within a specific country, visit Program
Topics. Select the topic, followed by the country,
in which you are interested. A list of specific activities
related to the topic (i.e. fire) appears under that
country. If you have more questions, contact the specific
regional program staff
member.
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6.
Disasters, such as wars and earthquakes, have devastating
effects on a region's population and natural surroundings.
Has the US Forest Service ever been involved in disaster
relief efforts overseas?
Due to its extensive emergency response capabilities
and experience in wild land and forest firefighting,
the US Forest Service was recognized as having unique
skills and resources that were suited to respond to
any type of disaster. International Programs' Disaster
Assistance Support Program (DASP), with funding
from the US Agency for International Development's Office
of Foreign Disaster Assistance, provides disaster
prevention, preparedness, and response expertise to
U.S. relief efforts overseas.
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7.
Does the US Forest Service have a role among international
forest policy makers?
We work with forest industry, State foresters, environmental
non-governmental organizations, and others to ensure
that the U.S. positions on forestry matters have the
advantage of the best technical input and prevent the
U.S. from entering into international agreements, which
would be impossible or costly to implement domestically.
The policy staff of International Programs works to
ensure that the U.S. position on international forest
policies and agreements reflects the best interests
of the United States. The US Forest Service collaborates
with the State Department, other government agencies,
private industry, and non-government organizations and
participates in international fora to promote sustainable
forest management. For more information, visit the Policy
section of the website.
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8.
I'm a natural resource manager from Namibia and am very
interested in learning about forest planning and protected
area management in the U.S. Does International Programs
offer any workshops or seminars on this topic?
Every year International Programs and its partners invite
natural resources managers from around the world to
participate in two different international seminars:
natural
resources management, protected
area management, watershed
management, and a field
course on wildlands and protected area management.
For more information, visit International
Seminars, where you can find brochures, application
forms, and discussion boards.
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9.
With whom does International Programs work?
One of our many partners is the U.S.
Agency for International Development, but we also
work with various government agencies, international
organizations, non-government organizations, private
industry and universities. The The
World Bank, Ducks
Unlimited, The Nature
Conservancy, Colorado
State University, the University
of Montana, and the University
of Idaho are some examples of our partners. For
an overview list, visit our Partners
page, or select a regional program to find out specific
collaborating organizations.
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10.
I am working on developing an ecotourism site that needs
additional funding; how can your office help me?
While International Programs does not fund work, we
can provide assessments for project development or technical
support to existing projects. We have collaborated on
projects funded by the World
Bank, Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations, United
Nations Development Program, U.S.
Agency for International Development, and others
in every region of the world. If your project has funding
but needs technical assistance, contact us to explore
collaboration possibilities. We can provide cost effective
assistance with the possibility of in-kind contributions.
To find out more, go to Cooperate
With Us.
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11.
Are there any opportunities or scholarships to study
international natural resource management?
International Programs does not provide any scholarships
directly; however, the website does offer a list of
funding resources to individuals . A
Guide to Grants, Fellowships and scholarships in International
Forestry and Natural Resources is available
under Student
Resources within the Learning
Zone.
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12.
My teacher assigned our class a project on the different
forests of the world. Can you help me find some information
please?
If you need help with your class project, you've come
to the right place. Just visit the Learning
Zone and head to the Kid's
Treehouse, where you'll find so many interesting
facts about the world's forest. Learn about the temperate,
tropical and coniferous forests as well the animals
and plants found there. Test your skills with our fun
games and quizzes!
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13.
Where can I find past issues of the IP newsletter?
First, visit the recent edition of our Newsletter,
where you will find a hyperlink to Past Issues. You
will have access to issues concerning watershed management,
invasive species, and disaster assistance.
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14.
I have so many specific questions, which are not addressed
in this website, about country activities. What should
I do?
For further information on a specific program topic,
country activities, or general questions on International
Programs, contact one of our Staff
members, who will be glad to help you.
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15.
Does International Programs have a mailing list, and
how can I join?
International Programs sends out announcements about
our newsletter and seminar information to our electronic
network. To be a part of our mailing list, please send
us your contact information via our Feedback
page.
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