The North Dakota Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources and Forest Resource Strategy completed by the NDSU-North Dakota Forest Service was approved by the Secretary of Agriculture and chief of the United States Forest Service. Each state was required to complete an assessment and strategy by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 as part of a national effort toward protecting and sustaining healthy forests. Each assessment and strategy is unique to its state and reflects public input, local expertise and the best available data on forest conditions. North Dakota’s document was one of the 59 state plans that make up the first-ever comprehensive suite of Statewide Forestry Resource Assessments and Strategies by members of the National Association of State Foresters.

Collectively, the assessments and strategies provide a blueprint for the future of forest management in the United States. Each state was required to complete the planning process within two years after enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill in order to receive federal funds from the U.S. Forest Service. The strategies provide long-term plans for addressing needs identified in the assessments through state forestry initiatives, partner engagement and financial investments. The goals of this collaborative planning process are to conserve working forest landscapes, protect forests from threats and enhance public benefits from trees and forests. The assessments and strategies will be revisited annually and updated every five years.

The North Dakota Statewide Assessment of Forest Resources and Forest Resource Strategy can be viewed on the N.D. Forest Service website at www.ndsu.edu/ndfs or a printed copy can be obtained by writing to the Office of the State Forester, NDSU-North Dakota Forest Service, 307 1st St. E., Bottineau ND 58318-1100 or calling (701) 228-5422.