Forests in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Healthy forests are critical to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people in direct support of the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in the unique position to manage forests specifically for wildlife. Managing our forests is essential to sustaining high-quality wildlife habitat that is healthy, adaptive, and resilient. The National Wildlife Refuge System manages over 20 million acres of forest habitats and strives to be the premier demonstration of wildlife friendly forest habitat management. Beyond National Wildlife Refuges, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service partners and protects lands across America to benefit wildlife.
Why Woods Are Wonderful
Forests are the original nature-based solution. They clean the air we breathe, cleanse the water we drink, and provide products essential to our daily lives. Forests provide habitat for plants and animals, sequester and store carbon from the atmosphere, and provide recreation and enjoyment. Trees are a renewable resource managed by experts that support rural livelihoods and communities. Forests are essential to the continuing benefit of the American people.
Forest Ecology Working Group
About Us
The Forest Ecology Working Group was established in 2016 as a network to share information, help address capacity challenges, provide learning opportunities, and promote the integration of forest ecology and habitat management principles throughout the Service. The Forest Ecology Working Group includes members from various resource management programs. The group embraces the Service’s strategic habitat conservation framework and seeks opportunities to assist with forest-dependent wildlife and ecosystem decisions. The group endeavors to contribute a perspective based on contemporary scientific principles and knowledge of forest ecosystem management.
Forest Ecology & Management Course
The FEWG and National Conservation Training Center sponsor a 4 ½ day field course, Forest Ecology and Management (CSP2110). This training provides biologists and land managers with fundamental forest ecology and management knowledge and skills to apply in decision-making situations including habitat conservation, forest planning and Service guidance. That skill set includes improved communication with professional foresters, private landowners, federal agency partners, and forest researchers. The course will provide a greater understanding of how silviculture can be used to achieve a range of conservation objectives, including habitat management and ecosystem restoration.
Forest Ecology Webinar Series
These monthly webinar series tell a story about how small- and large-scale forest disturbances such as fire, wind, ice storms, hurricanes, sea-level rise, flooding, introduced and endemic forest pests, and others, impact forest ecosystems. The series also examine ecological silviculture and climate adaptation approaches to help inform forest and wildlife management. Series topics are applicable to biologists, foresters, land managers and planners, and other natural resource practitioners. Participants represent Federal, State, Tribal, and local government agencies, and non-governmental organizations with an interest in the intersection of adaptation, forest ecology, and wildlife habitat management. See our Library Collection of videos below.
