Changing Composition and Culture: Transforming a Forest...

Megaflorestais -2012 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Leslie Weldon, Deputy Chief

National Forest System

U.S. Forest Service

Changing Composition and Culture:

Transforming a Forest Organization

October 22-25, 2012

• Making a tie between managing a diversity of forest and grassland resources, and managing for the strength of a diverse workforce

• Importance of Forest Service places on

connectivity to both urban and rural communities, and the need to develop partners from all communities

• Need to manage vast landscapes based on

outcomes from which outputs will flow

Water flowing from National Forests accounts for 20% of our country’s water supply!

• Acres harvested

• Acres of Wildlife habitat improved

• Miles of road repaired

• Quantity of wood products sold

Small Mill Operation

Road Closure Prescribed Fire

• Overall improvement in watershed condition

• Value of aggregate investments

• Holistic view

Resilient Forest That Can Withstand Stressors

Before After

Improved Watershed Condition

Cattle Grazing Biomass

Forest Thinning Wildlife Habitat

An Approach For: • Evaluating condition of watersheds

• Prioritizing watersheds for restoration or

maintenance

• Strategically implementing integrated restoration

• Tracking and monitoring outcome based program accomplishments

FOREST SERVICE PROGRAMS:

• Wildlife and Fisheries Habitat

• Forest Products • Vegetation and Watershed

Management • Legacy Roads and Trails • Roads • Hazardous Fuels Non-

Wildland Urban Interface • Rehabilitation and

Restoration

Strength Through Diversity!

Megaflorestais -2012 Santa Fe, New Mexico

Leslie Weldon, Deputy Chief

National Forest System

U.S. Forest Service

Forest Governance in the 21st Century

October 22-25, 2012