History of the United States Forest Service Information & History of the United States Forest Service Links at HealthHaven.com

Main article: United States Forest Service

[edit] History

In 1876, Congress created the office of Special Agent in the Department of Agriculture to assess the state of the forests in the United States. Franklin B. Hough was appointed the head of the office. In 1881, the office was expanded into the newly-formed Division of Forestry. The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 authorized withdrawing land from the public domain as "forest reserves," managed by the Department of the Interior. In 1901, the Division of Forestry was renamed the Bureau of Forestry. The Transfer Act of 1905 transferred the management of forest reserves from the General Land Office of the Interior Department to the Bureau of Forestry, henceforth known as the US Forest Service. Gifford Pinchot was the first Chief Forester of the US Forest Service.

Significant federal legislation affecting the Forest Service includes the Multiple Use - Sustained Yield Act of 1960, P.L. 86-517; the Wilderness Act, P.L. 88-577; the National Forest Management Act, P.L. 94-588; the National Environmental Policy Act, P.L. 91-190; the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act, P.L. 95-313; and the Forest and Rangelands Renewable Resources Planning Act, P.L. 95-307.

[edit] Timeline

1876 The Office of Special Agent for forest research is created in the Department of Agriculture to assess the state of the forests in the United States.
1881 The Office of the Special Agent is expanded into the newly formed Division of Forestry.
1891 The Forest Reserve Act of 1891 authorizes withdrawing land from the public domain as “forest reserves,” managed by the Department of the Interior.
1901 The Division of Forestry is renamed the Bureau of Forestry.
1905 The Transfer Act of 1905 transfers the management of forest reserves from the General Land Office (within the Department of the Interior) to the Bureau of Forestry (within the Department of Agriculture). The name of the agency changes to the Forest Service.
1905–1945 National forest management focuses on protecting lands against overgrazing, controlling and combating fire, protecting fish and game, and providing public recreation.
1911 The Weeks Law authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to purchase cutover, denuded, and other forested lands for flood and fire control. This new authority led to the expansion of National Forests in the Eastern United States and the protection and restoration of millions of acres of land.
1944 The Forest Service begins a campaign stating “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” using a fire-injured bear as a symbol to be careful. Today, “Smokey Bear” is one of the most widely recognized icons in America.
1946–1960 National forests experience increased demand on forest resources, especially timber and recreation.
1960–1980 In response to shifting public values, the Forest Service shifts focus to managing land as integrated systems, instead of individual resources.
1989 The Chief ’s New Perspectives initiative stresses ecosystem management and sustainability and is aimed to place timber management in line with other forest values including biodiversity, water quality, and recreation.
2001 The National Fire Plan is created to address the buildup of fuels unintentionally caused by decades of fire suppression, climate change, and developments adjacent to forests.

[edit] List of Forest Service Chiefs

Gifford Pinchot 1905-1910
Henry "Harry" Solon Graves 1910-1920
William B. Greeley 1920-1928
Robert Y. Stuart 1928-1933
Ferdinand A. Silcox 1933-1939
Earle H. Clapp 1939–1943
Lyle F. Watts 1943-1952
Richard E. McArdle 1952-1962
Edward P. Cliff 1962-1972
John R. McGuire 1972-1979
R. Max Peterson 1979-1987
F. Dale Robertson 1987-1993
Jack Ward Thomas 1993-1996
Michael Dombeck 1997-2001
Dale N. Bosworth 2001-2007
Abigail R. Kimbell 2007-2009
Tom Tidwell 2009-Present

[edit] Also see

List of legislation governing the United States Forest Service

[edit] Further reading

Hall, William L. (July 1914). "To Remake The Appalachians: A New Order In The Mountains That is Founded On Forestry -- What The Government's Appalachian Forests Mean To The People In The Mountains And To The Millions Who Want Recreation". The World's Work: A History of Our Time XLIV (2): 321–338. http://books.google.com/books?id=zegeQtMn9JsC&pg=PA321. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
Knappen, Theodore M. (May 1922). "Shall Our Forests Be "Developed" Or Renewed?". The World's Work: A History of Our Time XLIV: 78–88. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZW0AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA78. Retrieved 2009-08-04.

[edit] External links