U.S. Forest Service

What U.S. Forest Service does

The U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, established in 1905 to manage the nation's National Forest System. It administers 193 million acres of public land across 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, stewarding an additional ~900 million forested acres indirectly through private-landowner assistance and urban forestry. The organization employs roughly 30,000 people (per its Office of Civil Rights) and operates through nine regional headquarters, five research stations (Rocky Mountain, Forest Products Lab, Pacific Southwest, Southern Research, and Northern), and a distributed network of ranger districts and visitor centers.

The agency's core activities span wildfire detection and response (anchored by the ALERTCalifornia network of 1,200+ AI-enabled cameras covering roughly 3,600 incidents in 2025), timber production, grazing management for approximately 23,000 permittees and lessees, recreation access via passes and permits, conservation programs (Forest Legacy, Community Forest, Land and Water Conservation Fund), and forestry research. Recent technical work includes a shared patent with PathHouse LLC on a modular mass timber floor cassette system derived from small-diameter trees and forest debris, and the operating AlERTCalifornia AI wildfire detection system with UC San Diego, CAL FIRE, and Axis Communications. Distribution is direct to the public through federal recreation sites, ranger stations, recreation.gov, America the Beautiful passes, and interagency partnerships.

The U.S. Forest Service is funded primarily through congressional appropriations, with FY2026 funding set at $8.6 billion via the House appropriations bill, supplemented by supplemental disaster appropriations ($6.35 billion from the American Relief Act 2025), program-specific allocations ($230.6 million FY2025 Secure Rural Schools to 700+ counties, $80M+ Forest Legacy, up to $95 million Wood Innovations), and limited commercial revenue from timber sales, recreation fees, and grazing permits. Distribution runs through federal district offices, Recreation.gov, community-forest grants to local and tribal governments, and direct-to-consumer channels. Leadership is currently Tom Schultz (Forest Service Chief), operating under a 2026 reorganization that is relocating the headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City, Utah, consolidating 57 of 77 research facilities into a single Fort Collins, Colorado site, and replacing nine regional offices with 15 politically appointed state directors.

Name

U.S. Forest Service

Legal name

U.S. Forest Service

Website

https://fs.usda.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1905

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The U.S. Forest Service is a USDA federal agency managing 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands across all 50 states, serving the public with recreation, wildfire response, timber sales, grazing permits, and conservation programs since 1905.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Forest and Grassland Stewardship

NAICS

Forestry and Logging (113), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG), Timberland & Forest Asset Management (IMAMAJAA), Forest Ecosystem Services & Carbon/Conservation Programs (AFAMAAAJ), Forest Health Management (Pest, Disease & Invasive Species Control) (AFAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Forest resource management
• Wildland fire management
• Public land recreation
• Timber and grazing permits
• Forestry research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Appropriations: Primary funding comes from congressional appropriations through the federal budget. The agency receives funding through multiple appropriations bills including $8.6 billion in Forest Service funding per FY2026 appropriations.
2. Timber Sales: Commercial timber sales through competitive bids on National Forest System lands, governed by federal regulations. Revenue generated from timber harvesting on public lands.
3. Recreation Fees and Permits: The agency collects fees for recreation activities including passes, permits, and camping fees at developed recreation sites. America the Beautiful passes provide access to federal lands.
4. Grazing Permits: The agency manages grazing allotments for cattle and livestock on National Forest System lands, with approximately 23,000 permittees and lessees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The U.S. Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands across the United States, delivering public access through recreation sites, passes and permits, and visitor centers. It administers commercial programs including timber sales and grazing permits on federal lands, runs wildfire detection and response systems (including the ALERTCalifornia program), and operates the world's largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations. The agency also administers conservation grant programs such as the Community Forest Program and Forest Legacy Program to support state, tribal, and nonprofit partners.

Product overview

The U.S. Forest Service is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture that manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands. The agency provides public access for recreation, manages forest health and wildfire response, supports timber production, grazing permits, and conservation programs. It operates various resource management programs including fire management, disaster recovery, invasive species control, and community forest initiatives. The agency does not offer commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• U.S. Wildland Fire Service: The wildland firefighting division of the U.S. Forest Service that manages federal firefighting efforts.

Products and services

• National Forest Recreation Access (Passes and Permits) Public recreation access service for individual visitors and families to national forests and grasslands for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, skiing, and wildlife viewing, delivered through visitor centers, district offices, ranger stations, and online platforms.
• Timber Sales Program Competitive-bid commercial timber harvesting program on National Forest System lands for timber companies and wood products businesses, governed by federal regulations.
• Grazing Permit Program Livestock grazing allotment and permit service on National Forest System rangelands for approximately 23,000 permittees and lessees including ranchers and livestock operators.
• ALERTCalifornia Wildfire Detection Program AI-powered wildfire detection service deploying over 1,200 cameras across California to detect wildfires and support emergency response, with over 50% of alerts received before any 9-1-1 reports. Supported response for approximately 3,600 wildfire incidents in 2025.
• Community Forest Program Grant program paying up to 50% of project costs for community forest acquisition, requiring a 50% non-federal match, with full fee title acquisition required. Funds local governments, tribal governments, and nonprofits to acquire and manage community forests.
• Forest Legacy Program Conservation program funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund that awards grants for permanent conservation of forestlands, including projects such as the 1,131-acre Foys to Blacktail Community Forest Project funded at $2.9 million and the 1,446-acre Talladega National Forest boundary acquisition.
• Wood Innovations Program Grants Grant funding program providing up to $95 million for innovative wood uses and forest product processing, complemented by a $100 million Softwood Lumber Board investment partnership supporting mass timber development through the Accelerator Cities Program.
• Secure Rural Schools Funding Distribution Statutory funding distribution program providing $230.6 million in FY2025 and $182 million in retroactive FY2024 payments to over 700 counties for schools, roads, and community services tied to forest-dependent rural economies.
• America the Beautiful Pass Interagency federal recreation pass providing access to national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges, with fee-free access on designated days.
• Forestry Research and Development (Research Stations) Forestry and wildland fire research and data products delivered through five research stations (Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forest Products Laboratory, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Southern Research Station, and Northern Research Station) and through the Forest Inventory and Analysis data systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Restored over 41,000 miles of trails in partnership with the National Forest Foundation over 20 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Arizona Game and Fish DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on narrow-headed garter snake conservation and breeding program, with teams releasing captive-born snakes into Canyon Creek within Tonto National Forest as part of species recovery efforts.
• Phoenix ZoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in breeding program for threatened narrow-headed garter snakes, having achieved 100th snake returned to the wild through the zoo's captive breeding efforts.
• Amphibian and Reptile ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on narrow-headed garter snake conservation efforts including the release of captive-born snakes into Tonto National Forest.
• University of ArizonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in snake conservation and release program, providing research expertise for wildlife recovery efforts.
• National Forest FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative restoration partner for Hanging Lake Trail reconstruction ($4.7 million project), and trail restoration efforts having restored over 41,000 miles of trails over 20 years.
• City of Glenwood SpringsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Hanging Lake Trail restoration project, which reopened June 18, 2026 after $4.7 million reconstruction following Grizzly Creek Fire damage.
• Colorado Parks and WildlifemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Hanging Lake restoration and broader Colorado conservation efforts.
• The Conservation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Land and Water Conservation Fund acquisitions, having protected 1,446 acres along Talladega National Forest boundary and 480 acres on Mount Bross including DeCaLiBron Loop trail portion.
• University of California San Diego (ALERTCalifornia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI-powered wildfire detection program using 1,200+ cameras, with over 50% of alerts received before any 9-1-1 reports. Supported response for approximately 3,600 wildfire incidents in 2025.
• CAL FIREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia's state fire agency collaborating on the ALERTCalifornia wildfire detection system and emergency response.
• Axis CommunicationsmajorTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing camera hardware for the ALERTCalifornia network of 1,200+ cameras detecting wildfires across California.
• State of UtahcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared stewardship agreement signed January 8, 2026 giving Utah greater role in managing over 8 million acres of national forest land. Third state after Idaho and Montana to formalize such compact.
• State of IdahocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared Stewardship agreement renewed December 2024 with goal to double timber sales from National Forest land to 100 million board feet annually within five years, backed by $4 million in Forest Service funding.
• State of MontanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerShared stewardship agreement similar to Idaho, formalizing state involvement in managing federal forest lands.
• National Waste and Recycling FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Woodsy Owl 'Skip the Bin! Turn Your Batteries In!' PSA campaign addressing battery fire risks, with pilot programs collecting over 1,500 pounds of batteries.
• Ducks UnlimitedmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partnership leveraging $10 million USFS award to restore wetlands in Louisiana and Mississippi Alluvial Valley, with private contributions from Meta and Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
• American ForestsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored report quantifying climate-smart forest management potential in Minnesota, advancing forest carbon and climate research.
• The Nature ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI) across 3-million-acre ponderosa pine forest landscape in northern Arizona, generating $216 million economic impact in 2023.
• Boise State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in $4 million NSF EPSCoR research grant investigating prescribed burns and managed wildfires, collaborating with Navajo Technical University, Northwest Nazarene University, and University of Oklahoma.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/forestservice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/usdaForestService
• Facebookfacebook.com/USForestService
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/usda
• Instagraminstagram.com/u.s.forestservice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments6 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about U.S. Forest Service