The USDA Forest Service Strategic Plan is a national policy with a sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Plan is 5 years between 2015 and 2020. The strategic goals of the plan are to sustain forests and grasslands, deliver benefits to the public, apply knowledge globally, and to excel as a high-performing agency.
This Strategic Plan places emphasis on hunting and fishing that provides the primary food source for some rural residents.
The health, diversity, and productivity of forests and grasslands will be sustained with contribution to ecological, physical, biological, economic, cultural, and social well-being to meet the needs of present and future generations. Forest protection measures will be taken for efficient watershed management to provide safe water, sustain surface water and ground water flow, maintain fish and wildlife habitat, control erosion and stabilize streambanks. Water resources will be conserved to maintain water of sufficient quantity and quality. Public awareness will be raised on the importance and linkage between forests and environmental sustainability Furthermore partners and educators will be engaged in developing, distributing, and using high-quality conservation education programs and materials so that people of different ages and abilities can understand and appreciate the country s natural and cultural resources and the need to manage them for present and future generations.
This Strategic Plan underlines the benefits arising from the use of natural resources such as creating jobs and contributing to economic vitality in many rural areas. Particularly, jobs and opportunities will be created for local rural and urban communities to sustainably produce and use wood products and provide contracting opportunities in communities for small businesses.
Capacity building of forest officers will be enhanced through the use of the best available science and information to understand and respond to integrated ecological, social, cultural, and economic dynamics. Ecological restoration projects will be implemented to support the growth and development of healthy ecosystems and vibrant, resilient communities. Investments will be promoted for forest restoration to ensure sustainability of clean air and water, high-quality recreation settings and opportunities, scenic character, forest products, cultural sites, and habitats for plant, aquatic, and wildlife species including threatened and endangered species. Inventory, monitoring, and assessment activities will be conducted across all lands to improve the adaptive management of natural resources. Management of natural resources and decision-making processes will be improved through the use of reliable information and applications. Reliable information will be gathered by improving knowledge of complex environmental processes, biological and physical conditions, resource uses, human and social dimensions, the economic value of the resources, and the interconnections among all these elements. Moreover new scientifically sound and reliable information and technology will be available and accessible. Collaborative tools will be developed to support internal and external exchange of information with governments at all levels, both in the United States and around the world.
The resilience of forests and grassland ecosystems will be increased with a multi-hazard focus on climate change, drought, severe wildfires, insects and diseases, invasive species, human influences, extreme weather, and other visible disturbances.
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