Better Management Can Conserve and Restore National Forests and Grasslands Now and for the Future

The National Forest System (NFS) includes 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands that provide habitat for more than 3,000 species of fish and wildlife and clean water for 60 million people across 33 states. The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) manages these lands under a multiple use-sustained yield mandate. Under this obligation, the agency must ensure that NFS lands are healthy and sufficiently resilient to disturbances to continue providing their full breadth of essential services and resources.

Although USFS has generally improved its management of NFS lands since the system was created in the late 1800s, more action is needed to account for today’s challenges and opportunities. By deploying a management approach that is balanced, based on science, and has an eye toward the future, the USFS can meet the needs of communities and nature, now and over the long term.

The resources collected here reflect The Pew Charitable Trusts’ efforts to protect and restore NFS lands.