BLM MOU W6-200-2009-03 

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

between the 

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

and 

THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS 

I. AUTHORITY 

This MASTER MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) is hereby entered 

into by and between the SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS hereinafter referred to 

as the SAF, and the BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, U.S. Department of the 

Interior, hereinafter referred to as the BLM, under the provisions of the Federal Land 

Policy and Management Act (43 U.S.C. 1701-1782), as amended. 

II. PURPOSE: 

The purpose of this MOU is to establish a framework for cooperation between the BLM 

and the SAF to achieve mutual goals. 

The BLM and the SAF propose to work together to achieve common goals of: ensuring 

the health and use of forests and woodlands for present and future generations; advancing 

the science and practice of forestry; advancing forestry education and promoting 

professional excellence; educating practitioners and the public about forests and the 

profession of forestry. This cooperation is in the parties' mutual interest. 

III. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL BENEFIT AND INTERESTS: 

The BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT is responsible for managing approximately 

258 million acres of public lands of which nearly 70 million acres are forests and 

woodlands. These forests are very diverse, ranging from ecologically valuable PinyonJuniper woodlands of the Southwest to highly productive conifer forests in the 

Northwest. These resources are of substantial value to the Nation as a whole through 

recreational, commercial, subsistence, scientific, and cultural use. The proper 

management of these resources is of great importance for the prosperity and enjoyment of 

current and future generations. The BLM mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and 

productivity of these lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

An important component of the BLM's management strategy is promoting and sustaining 

partnerships focused on the prudent and proper management of forests and meeting the 

agencies stewardship responsibilities. 

The SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FORESTERS is the national professional, scientific, 

and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. 

Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest organization for professional 

foresters in the world. The mission of the Society of American Foresters is to advance 

the practice, science, education, and technology of forestry; to enhance the competency 
BLM MOU WO-200-2009-03 

of its members; to establish professional excellence; and to use the knowledge, skills, and 

conservation ethic of the profession to ensure the continued health and use of forest 

ecosystems for the present and future availability of forest resources to benefit society. 

The SAF is a nonprofit organization meeting the requirements of 501 (c) (3). The SAF 

members include natural resource professionals in public and private settings, 

researchers, CEOs, administrators, educators, and students. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above premises, the parties agree as 

follows: 

IV. THE SAF SHALL: 

1. Share the scientific and technical expertise of its membership with the BLM. 

2. Ensure that the Annual Conferences of the SAF address the continuing 

education and professional development needs of the BLM personnel. 

3. Pursue ways to enhance the Office of Personnel Management's educational 

and experiential standards for entry-level professional and technical forester 

positions and for advancement. 

4. Work with higher education institutions to improve the preparation of their 

students to work effectively within the BLM. 

5. Encourage the SAF Sectional, State and Chapter Chairs to coordinate 

meetings with the BLM program leaders, to facilitate professional networking 

and technology transfer. 

6. Apprise the BLM of the SAF projects, studies, and other initiatives which 

could be of common interest. 

7. Provide the BLM prior to publication, any proposed releases to the general 

public that reference the BLM, this MOU or any employee of the BLM. 

V. THE BLM SHALL: 

l. Encourage the BLM employees to participate, at their supervisor's discretion, 

in activities considered mutually beneficial to both the BLM and the SAF such 

as: participation in Society sponsored events, attending the SAF conferences, 

publishing in its journals, and serving in leadership positions within the SAF 

to enhance their resource management capabilities and advance the state of 

knowledge of the forestry profession. 

2. Encourage the BLM's national, state and local program leaders to coordinate 

the BLM program meetings with the SAF Sectional, State, and Chapter 

meetings to facilitate professional networking and technology transfer. 

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BLM MOU WO-200-2009-03 

3. Actively assist the SAF in providing guidance, training, and information 

pertaining to state-of-the-art forest science and technology. 

4. Encourage the BLM foresters to participate in the SAF Certified Forester 

program, which promotes professional development, ethical conduct, and 

academic and experience standards. 

5. Support the BLM foresters obtaining appropriate professional education, 

experience, ethical and development credentials. 

6. Provide information to the SAF during its work with higher education 

institutions to better prepare students to work effectively within the BLM. 

7. Apprise the SAF of the BLM projects, studies, and other initiatives which 

could be of common interest. 

8. Provide the SAF prior to publication, any proposed releases to the general 

public that reference the SAF, this MOU, or any employee of the SAF. 

VI. THE SAF AND BLM MUTUALLY AGREE TO: 

1. Work together to promote and enhance the stewardship of forest and 

woodland resources to meet existing needs and those of future generations 

based upon sound science and policies. 

2. Support and promote the use of standards for resource inventories, monitoring 

and assessments as a basic requirement for the planning and management of 

forest and woodlands. 

3. Cooperate in the development of technical workshops, continuing education 

courses, natural resource management conferences, and scientific publications 

that support the science and practice of forestry. Examples could include 

leadership training sessions and materials on technical aspects of forestry. 

4. Cooperate in the development and implementation of projects that will 

increase public awareness and understanding of forest resources and forest 

management. 

5. Provide forums, workshops, or other opportunities to encourage 

comprehensive forest planning by federal and state agencies as well as private 

and municipal landowners. 

6. Cooperate to promote the highest standards of professional behavior and 

ethical conduct by the BLM employees and the SAF members. 
BLM MOU WO-200-2009-03 

7. Explore ways to enhance leadership and management training and 

professional development for the BLM foresters to help them work more 

effectively with landowners and in collaborative partnerships. 

8. Explore the need for conducting independent reviews of forestry-related 

programs of the BLM, to evaluate issues such as staffing needs, research 

priorities, partner interaction, fiscal accountability, achievement of forest 

management objectives, and success in achieving the Director's priorities, and 

to recommend ways to enhance programs in the future. 

9. Facilitate regular interaction between the BLM, the SAF, and others in the 

forestry and conservation community to cultivate relationships and ensure 

open and effective communication on research priorities and policy 

development. 

10. Meet annually or more frequently as needed to review the progress and 

opportunities for implementing the MOU. 

VII. IT IS MUTUALLY AGREED AND UNDERSTOOD BY THE SAID 

PARTIES THAT: 

1. Any information furnished to the BLM under this instrument is subject to the 

Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). 

2. Modifications within the scope of the instrument shall be made by mutual 

consent of the parties, by the issuance of a written modification, signed and 

dated by all parties, prior to any changes being performed. 

3. This MOU in no way restricts the BLM or the SAF from participating with 

other public or private agencies, organizations, and individuals. 

4. The BLM and the SAF will handle their own activities and utilize their own 

resources, including the expenditure of their own funds, in pursuing these 

objectives. Each party will carry out its separate activities in a coordinated 

and mutually beneficial manner. 

5. The instrument is executed as of the date of the last signature and is effective 

through 5 years at which time it will expire, unless extended. 

6. Any of the parties, may terminate the instrument in whole, or in part, by a 30 

day written notice at any time before the date of expiration. 

7. This instrument is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligation document. Any 

endeavor or transfer of anything of value involving reimbursement or 

contribution of funds between the parties to this instrument will be handled in 

accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures including those 

El 
BLM MOU WO-200-2009-03 

for Government procurement and printing. Such endeavors will be outlined in 

separate agreements that shall be made in writing by representatives of the 

parties and shall be independently authorized by appropriate statutory 

authority. This instrument does not provide such authority. Specifically, this 

instrument does not establish authority for noncompetitive award to the 

cooperator of any contract or other agreement. Any contract or agreement for 

training or other services must fully comply with all applicable requirements 

for competition. 

8. This MOU is not intended to, and does not create, any right, benefit, or trust 

responsibility, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by a 

party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person. 

VIII. ADMINISTRATION 

The MOU principal points of contact will be: 

For the BLM: Chief, Division of Forests and Woodlands 

For the SAF: Executive Vice President 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this MOU as of the last 

written date below. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

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