IV. Field Guide to Nonprofit Organizations

Interpretive Associations (continued)

Authorities, Agreements, and Management

The Cooperative Funds and Deposit Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-148) provides the fundamental legal authority for the Forest Service to work with Interpretive Associations. It allows the Forest Service, on behalf of the Secretary of Agriculture, to enter into Cooperative Agreements with private organizations to develop and publish cooperative environmental education and forest history materials. These efforts must serve the public interest. A mutual interest other than monetary considerations must also exist.

The Forest Service uses a Participating Agreement template for interpretive associations to establish or renew an agreement with an interpretive association. The template is available to agency employees on the Forest Service intranet (internal) Grants and Agreements website. The agreement outlines the mutual benefits of the partnership and what each party will contribute. It is signed by the Regional Forester and is valid for five years. Additional information on how the Forest Service manages interpretive associations can be found in the Forest Service Manual 2390.
(http://www.fs.fed.us/im/directives/)

Oversight and coordination of interpretive association operations takes place at all three organizational levels of the Forest Service. The Interpretive Services Program Manager, who works for Recreation and Heritage Resources in the WO, supports national activities and works with the Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL). This association is the national membership organization for all interpretive or cooperating associations that work with public land management agencies.
(http://www.appl.org)

Each Regional Office has an Interpretive Specialist who serves as the Regional liaison between the agency and interpretive associations operating in the Region. Regional Interpretive Specialists are the technical experts on matters pertaining to interpretive associations. They should be consulted when establishing new interpretive associations, renewing existing agreements, or resolving concerns about the operations or management of an existing interpretive association.

Forests with active interpretive associations usually designate a Forest Coordinator. At the agency's larger visitor centers, the Visitor Center Director may also work directly with the executive director of the interpretive association to coordinate and resolve day-to-day operations.

 

National Forest Foundation • USDA Forest Service • Partnership Resource Center