Department of Agriculture Forest Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA Forest Service) is the federal agency responsible for managing and protecting the nation's public forests and grasslands. Established to conserve America's natural resources for future generations, the Forest Service oversees 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, encompassing approximately 193 million acres across 44 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As an all-hazards emergency response agency, the Forest Service plays a leading role in wildland firefighting, prescribed fire, forestry management, watershed protection, recreation management, conservation, scientific research, and emergency incident management. Forest Service personnel include wildland firefighters, law enforcement officers, foresters, biologists, engineers, and resource specialists who work together to protect public lands while supporting sustainable forest management and outdoor recreation. In addition to land management, the Forest Service maintains one of the largest wildland firefighting organizations in the world. During wildfire season, it works alongside state, local, tribal, military, and international partners to suppress wildfires, protect communities, and restore fire-affected landscapes. The agency also operates specialized aviation resources, including air tankers, helicopters, smokejumpers, and incident management teams that respond to some of the nation's largest wildfires and natural disasters.