Tom Mandera's Big Sky Binders

BOISE, Idaho, May 13, 2013 – During a visit to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell outlined the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure collaboration in protecting Americans from wildfire, and urged homeowners and local communities to take steps to reduce their risks during the 2013 fire season.

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2013 –U.S. Forest Service researchers recently found that about 90 percent of fuel reduction treatments on national forests were effective in reducing the intensity of wildfire while also allowing for better wildfire control.

WASHINGTON, May 9, 2013 –U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today announced awarding $772,820 to help national forests enhance or establish More Kids in the Woods and Children’s Forests programs in 16 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Including more than $1.49 million in partner contributions, this award is part of the more than $2.26 million dedicated toward connecting American children to the great outdoors.

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2012 — From New York City’s Central Park to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, America’s urban forests store an estimated 708 million tons of carbon, an environmental service with an estimated value of $50 billion, according to a recent U.S. Forest Service study.

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2013 -- U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today that the Forest Service has issued a notice of intent to award contracts to five companies to provide a total of seven Next Generation airtankers for wildfire suppression.

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2013 – The U.S. Forest Service and the Potomac Nationals are scheduled to plant 187 trees in a ceremony at an urban forest in Fairfax, Va., through a partnership with Fairfax ReLeaf on Arbor Day, April 26.Under the “Break a Bat, Plant a Tree” program, for every bat they break, the Potomac Nationals, a Minor League Baseball team from Woodbridge, Va., pledge to plant a tree. Last year, the baseball players broke 187 bats.

WASHINGTON, April 23, 2013 – U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today announced national accomplishment awards recognizing extraordinary efforts to integrate accessibility into national forests and grasslands facilities to better serve all visitors.

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2013 – U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell highlighted the exceptional value that the Forest Service provides the American public in testimony today before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2013 - A U.S. Forest Service scientist was recently honored by the United Nations at the Forest Hero Awards in Istanbul, Turkey. Ariel E. Lugo, director of the Forest Service’s International Institute of Tropical Forestry in Puerto Rico, received a U.N. Forest Hero Award for his substantial contributions to forest conservation in the Caribbean and the ability to communicate the importance of conservation to diverse groups of people at all levels.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2013 – U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell today announced a series of meetings in Colorado, Utah and California that will focus on the development of a ski area water rights clause impacting ski facility operations on national forests.

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2013 -- U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced Wednesday that the U.S. Forest Service has awarded legacy large airtanker exclusive-use contracts to two companies to provide a total of eight large airtankers to support wildland fire suppression through the 2013 fire season.

The U.S. Forest Service today announced the final rule governing the objection process for projects and activities implementing land-management plans. The final rule will be published in the Federal Register on March 27.

Today marks the U.N.'s first International Day of Forests, recognizing the important role forests play in the health of ecosystems, economy and society.

U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified before a House subcommittee today on the economic value generated by the nation’s forests during a time of increased fire activity, encroaching development, pests and disease.

The U.S. Forest Service has released and is seeking public comment on the proposed 2012 Planning Rule Directives, the key set of agency guidance documents that will direct implementation of the 2012 Planning Rule.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released two comprehensive reports today that synthesize the scientific literature on climate change effects and adaptation strategies for U.S. agriculture and forests. The reports, entitled Climate Change and Agriculture: Effects and Adaptation and the Effects of Climate Variability and Change on Forest Ecosystems: A Comprehensive Science Synthesis for the U.S. Forest Sector, were created as inputs to the National Climate Assessment. Scientists from the federal service, universities, non-governmental organizations, industry, tribal lands and the private sector contributed to the peer-reviewed studies

The federal grazing fee for 2013 will be $1.35 per head month (HM) for lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The grazing fee for 2013 is the same as it was in 2012.