The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service is a Federal agency that manages public lands in national forests and grasslands. The Forest Service is also the largest forestry research organization in the world, and provides technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies. Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the Forest Service, summed up the purpose of the Forest Service—"to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run."

12/10 APPL response to request in the Federal Register for input on ways the U.S. Forest Service’s can further build and support partnerships.

Nora Rasure, USDAFS and Kevin Kissling, Eastern National   2010 US Forest Service Partners in Excellence Award was presented to Eastern National at the 2010 APPL Convention in San Diego, CA.