III. Field Guide to the Forest Service
National Forest System
The National Forest System (NFS) encompasses 192 million acres of public land managed by the Forest Service. A Deputy Chief is assigned to oversee the National Forest System. The Deputy Chief reports to the Chief. Including the WO, there are four levels of National Forest offices and each level provides a different aspect of leadership and a different level of authority.
Regions
The NFS has nine Regions, each with a headquarters often referred to as an RO (Regional Office). While there are only nine Regions, they are numbered 1 through 6 and 8 through 10. A number of years ago, Region 7 was eliminated and the Forests in Region 7 were consolidated into Regions 8 and 9. The highest authority in each Regional Office is the Regional Forester, who reports to the Chief. Among other duties, Regional Office staff coordinate activities within the Region and allocate budgets to the Forests. Guidance on contracting, grants, and agreements is often provided at this level. Many of the Regions have a partnership staff person who works with National Forest employees and partners. Their job is to provide assistance in overcoming partnership barriers and promoting partnership activities. See Appendix D – Forest Service Regions – for a map showing the nine Regions.
National Forests
Perhaps the most familiar unit in the National Forest System is the National Forest or Grassland. There are 155 National Forests and 20 Grasslands. Each National Forest or Grassland is often referred to internally as a unit. Each unit has an office referred to as the SO (Supervisors Office). The person in charge of a National Forest or Grassland is the Forest Supervisor who reports to the Regional Forester. The Supervisors Office coordinates activities and priorities between Districts, allocates the forest level budget, and provides technical assistance to each District. Most contracting officers are located in the Supervisors Office, unless the National Forests in the Region are organized into zones. A zone is where two or more National Forests share personnel such as contracting officers, planning staff, and human resources staff. A contracting officer is a Forest Service employee who has the skills and authority to bind the Forest Service to legal contracts.
Districts
Each National Forest or Grassland is made up of Ranger Districts. A District Ranger is in charge of the activities at this level and reports to the Forest Supervisor. Many on-the-ground activities are directed from the Ranger Districts, including operation of campgrounds, watershed restoration activities, trail maintenance, and management of vegetation and wildlife habitat. Ranger Districts have the closest connection to local communities and on-the-ground activities.
National Forest or District Project Implementation
National Forest or Grassland project priorities are usually set by the forest leadership team. The forest leadership team is composed of the Forest Supervisor and staff officers from the Supervisors Office, along with the District Rangers from the local unit. The employees with the authority to make project decisions are often referred to as line officers. Forest Supervisors and District Rangers are line officers.
