Forest Service seeks community members to serve on Secure Rural Schools advisory committees nationwide

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is seeking nominations for membership on Secure Rural Schools Resource Advisory Committees. The committees were established under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self‑Determination Act of 2000 and operate in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

The committees help strengthen collaborative relationships for those who use and steward national forests.  Committee members provide recommendations to the Forest Service on projects consistent with Title II of the Secure Rural Schools Act. Title II projects may include watershed restoration, road maintenance, forest health projects, habitat improvement, and other activities that enhance forest ecosystems and benefit local communities.

“This national recruitment effort covers 84 committees serving more than 700 counties,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “These committees bring local expertise directly into the decision‑making process. Their work strengthens forest health, infrastructure and the rural communities that depend on them.”

Each committee has 15 members, appointed by the Chief of the Forest Service to serve four‑year terms. Responsibilities include reviewing and monitoring projects and advising the Secretary of Agriculture on progress, results and recommended adjustments.

Members serve without compensation but may be eligible for travel reimbursement under federal travel regulations.

Nominees must live in the state where the committee has jurisdiction, identify the interest group they represent, outline their qualifications, and submit a completed AD-755 form. Nomination packages must be submitted within 90 days of this announcement to the Chief of the Forest Service through the Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools National Partnership Office at: SM.FS.SRSInbox@usda.gov.

For more information on committee membership categories and application instructions, visit the Forest Service website. Questions may be sent to SM.FS.SRSInbox@usda.gov.

About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation’s forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.