United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2005-04-15 monographic deposited born digital 51 p. GA 1.13:GAO-05-374 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374 P0b002ee18037550e f:d05374 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374 GAO-05-374 Data collection Data integrity Forest conservation Forest management Land management National forests Plants (organisms) Wilderness areas Other Written Product A21747

In 2004, the Forest Service reported to the Congress that it had a backlog of nearly 900,000 acres of land needing reforestation--the planting and natural regeneration of trees. Reforestation and subsequent timber stand improvement treatments, such as thinning trees and removing competing vegetation, are critical to restoring and improving the health of our national forests after timber harvests or natural disturbances such as wildland fires. GAO was asked to (1) examine the reported trends in federal lands needing reforestation and timber stand improvement, (2) identify the factors that have contributed to these trends, and (3) describe any potential effects of these trends that federal land managers have identified. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374.pdf GAO-05-374 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-05-374 Other Written Product GAO-05-374; Forest Service: Better Data Are Needed to Identify and Prioritize Reforestation and Timber Stand Improvement Needs; Data collection Data integrity Forest conservation Forest management Land management National forests Plants (organisms) Wilderness areas Title 16 Section 576-576b 16 U.S.C. 576-576b