The USDA Forest Service - An Overview

The Forest Service first began in 1876 with Franklin B. Hough. He conducted the first forest research by visiting the nation's forests. In 1881, the forest service was dubbed the "Division of Forestry." In 1891, it became legal to withdraw land by the government for reserves upon which nothing could be built. In 1901, the Division of Forestry was renamed the Bureau of Forestry, and in 1905, it became known as the USDA Forest Service. It has been discussed whether the forest service should be moved to the Department of Interior, along with the National Park Service and other land management agencies, but it has not been moved as of this time. In 1944, Smokey the Bear was first used to discourage people from causing forest fires, and his slogan, "Only you can prevent forest fires," is one of the most well-known phrases in the United States.

The United States is divided into different forest districts for forest conservation. In each district there are different district rangers who work in the different parks and forests in his or her area. The USDA Forest Service is in charge of all these districts and rangers. Every district ranger has tasks, such as building and maintaining park roads, keeping track and controlling wildlife, protecting the forests and grasslands from natural and unnatural disasters, managing the vegetation, ensuring that no illegal activities are going on in the forests, and looking after any parks and campgrounds that might be in his or her area. In the area of ecosystem conservation, there is a forest research division of the forest service that figures out what needs to be done to protect the forest and grassland ecosystems. Congress has designated some areas of the U.S. that are not to be disturbed by humans, and the forest service must oversee that this is upheld. The U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations unit is the main division that deals with legal aspects of forest conservation, such as ensuring that endangered species are not being hunted.

The USDA Forest Service does a wonderful job of preserving and conserving the natural beauty of the nation's forest and grasslands. Imagine what the U.S. would look like without these national landmarks. The forest service has a long history, and has always been one of the greatest aids to ecological preservation that the United States has ever known.