Congress responded by directing the Forest Service to manage national forests for additional multiple uses and benefits and for the sustained yield of renewable resources such as water, forage, wildlife, wood, and recreation. Multiple use means managing resources under the best combination of uses to benefit the American people while ensuring the productivity of the land and protecting the quality of the environment. National Forests are wonderful places for all types of recreation. The Forest Service helps make sure areas are preserved for varied uses. National forests are America's Great Outdoors.
National forests provide opportunities for recreation in open spaces and natural environments.
With more and more people living in urban areas, national forests are becoming more important and valuable to Americans. People enjoy a wide variety of activities on national forests, including backpacking in remote, unroaded wilderness areas, mastering an all-terrain vehicle over a challenging trail, enjoying the views along a scenic byway, or fishing in a great trout stream, to mention just a few. National Forests are our national treasures. The Forest Service works to keep them in their most natural and beautiful state through careful management. The National Forest System consists of nine regions.