For More Information 

Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace for a copy 

of the Forest Service’s open space conservation 

strategy; interactive, aerial images of open space 

loss; conservation success stories; links to open 

space programs; publications; and other helpful 

resources. 

“The loss of open space is an urgent and important 

problem, and the Forest Service clearly has a 

role in helping balance growth and development 

with open space conservation. We can work with 

others as a conservation partner to help conserve 

critical open space across the landscape.”

“I firmly believe the Forest Service must work at 

the landscape scale to stay relevant in a rapidly 

changing world and to successfully fulfill our 

responsibility of sustaining the Nation’s forests and 

grasslands.”

Gail Kimbell, Forest Service Chief

March 2007

Open Space 

Conservation 

Strategy Highlights

Cooperating across boundaries to sustain 

working and natural landscapes

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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET 

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of 

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equal opportunity provider and employer.

FS-888

September 2007

United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Service
Background image from the Metropolitan Design Center Image Bank. ©Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

The Loss of Open Space

Across the United States, open space is being rapidly 

developed as more people choose to live at the urban 

fringe and in scenic, rural areas. We are losing 6,000 

acres of forests, farms, ranches, and other open spaces 

each day. The loss and fragmentation of open space 

impacts the sustainability of natural systems and the 

overall quality of life for Americans. 

Rapid growth into wildlands increases the risk 

of wildfire for people and property, decreases the 

economic viability of natural resource enterprises, 

contributes to the spread of invasive species, and 

fragments habitats. At stake is the ability of private 

and public lands to provide:

■ Clean water, 

■ Scenic beauty, 

■ Wildlife and biodiversity, 

■ Outdoor recreation, 

■ Wood and food, and 

■ Natural resource-based jobs.

Why the Forest Service?

In 2003, then-Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth 

identified the loss of open space as one of four great 

threats facing our Nation’s forests and grasslands. 

Development of open space affects the agency’s 

ability to manage the national forests and grasslands, 

as well as our ability to help private landowners 

and communities sustainably manage their land for 

private and public benefits. Forests and ecosystems 

do not recognize boundaries, so the Forest Service 

collaborates with partners across the landscape 

to promote sustainable forestry and open space 

conservation.

Our Vision

Our vision for the 21st century is an interconnected 

network of open space across the landscape that 

supports healthy ecosystems and a high quality of life 

for Americans.

Our Goal

Sustain the environmental, social, and economic benefits 

of forests and grasslands across the landscape by:

■ Protecting the most ecologically and socially 

important lands;

■ Conserving working lands as sustainable forests 

and grasslands;

■ Expanding and connecting open spaces in cities, 

suburbs, and towns; and

■ Reducing the potential ecological impacts and 

risks of development.

A Conservation Partner

The Forest Service has developed an Open Space 

Conservation Strategy to help us be a more effective 

conservation partner. 

The strategy builds upon our existing open space 

programs and expertise, and expands our involvement to 

fully utilize resources and skills from all parts and levels 

of the agency. Our role is not to regulate development 

or land use, but to work with States, communities, 

landowners, and others to strategically conserve open 

space across the landscape.

 

We plan to focus our conservation efforts on four 

priorities:

1. Convene partners to identify and protect priority 

open space.

2. Promote national policies and markets to help 

private landowners conserve open space.

3. Provide resources and tools to help communities 

expand and connect open spaces. 

4. Participate in community growth planning to 

reduce ecological impacts and wildfire risks.