The Forest Service mission is to manage the National Forest System, including many National Recreation Areas and National Forest Monuments, according to principles of multiple use and sustained yield. The approach is based on ecosystems and includes all aspects of the natural world in the decisions that allow activities on the National Forest. The Goal is to improve the environment and the habitat of our National Forests.

Understanding the Forest Service Personnel, the processes they follow and the considerations they must make will improve your own ability to influence change. They are petitioned from all types of user groups to manage in accordance with what each group deems important to them. Usually all the groups desires differ and result in some kind of conflict. Have your own ideas and suggestions for your user group. It is important to know who the Backcountry Roads and Trails person is for your area and try to make contact. Try to learn where the Forest Service needs the most help or where a project could take place.

When working with the Forest Service, try to imagine a "team" not a company. At the district level, the Ranger is in charge of making decisions but is compelled to consider all input from his staff and the public. The staff is obligated to input their expertise into each decision which inspires each team member to be involved with the creation of the criteria that the District Ranger uses to base their decision on. There are over fifty Acts of Congress that relate to the Forest Service; hundreds of regulations, policy manuals and guidance handbooks. Some of these laws and regulations compliment each other and some conflict. What we end up with is the result of the deciding officers opinion of what is best for the forest in the long term, taking into consideration the input from staff, higher-ups, pressure from the public, local government and his own best judgment of what laws and regulations apply.

The mission of the BLM is to manage public lands, including National Conservation Areas, according to the principles of multiple-use and sustained yield. The BLM manages these lands to accommodate a variety of uses; Recreation, tourism, wilderness preservation, fish and wildlife habitat and timber, mining and grazing.

The BLM manages Public Land to provide for unstructured recreation including opportunities for adventure, discovery, challenge and risk. They want to ensure that people can get to these public lands and not be managed by unnecessary rules and regulations. The task in meeting that demand is to maintain that distinctiveness through custodial but responsive management. The nature of these areas does not lend itself to intensive management, especially if their distinctive, undeveloped character is to be maintained. The lands administered by the BLM are referred to as Extensive Recreation Management areas.

You Can Help By:

1. Adopting a road or trail. This allows the budgets to stretch farther. Get your club or group involved with this. By maintaining your trail, you're able to keep a watch over what is happening on it and noting any problem areas that need to be brought to the attention of the Forest Service or BLM If you see a potential danger report what you see and offer to help fix it.

2. Apply for funding to repair trail damage, bring a trail up to standards or provide needed signs or facilities. The ability to locate money, combined with volunteer labor, will often make the difference of getting your project implemented.

3. Be a good example to others. If people need help, help them. Talk to others and work with them . Don't play policeman. If someone is doing something they shouldn't be doing get a good description of persons and activity, license numbers and photos if possible and notify the proper person to take appropriate action. This is your public land and don't let a few careless people cause problems for all of us!

Be the extended eyes and ears of our public land managers. Providing this service helps to keep our lands nicer and establishes a relationship that is needed between recreationalists and land managers. Working together, being the good guy and reporting the bad guy keeps areas open to us all!

It is always better to try and cooperate with and become a part of the "team" to get what we want! Make every effort to sway the thinking your way. Understand that compromise and sacrifice are both important concepts to team work. Speak up and stay in the conversations, write letters and be specific and consistent. The squeaky wheel gets the grease! Never give up, it's your best tool!

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