Pinchot Institute For Conservation, U.S. Forest Service Sign MOU Enhancing Long-Term Partnership

On May 17, John Donahue, Executive Director of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation signed a master agreement with USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. 

The Institute and the Forest Service have been partners in forest stewardship since the Institute’s dedication in 1963. 

This new master agreement reflects the importance of this historic partnership and introduces opportunities for the Institute and the Forest Service to expand their collaboration on a range of initiatives critical for the future of forests – and the cultural, economic, climatic, and other benefits that they provide.

Also present at the signing ceremony were: Greg Smith, head of the National Forest system, David Wagner, current Chair of the Pinchot Institute, Carol Collier, Emeritus Chair, Alex Andrus, Director of External Affairs, David Lytle, deputy Chief of Research and Development, and Antoine “Tony” Dixon, deputy chief of Business Operations.

The agreement “affirms the Institute’s value as an essential and trusted partner of the Forest Service. Our respective missions and values are complementary, and we both benefit in many ways from the partnership. Through this collaboration we fulfill the challenge laid out by President Kennedy at the Institute’s dedication: to excel ‘in maintaining and expanding the resources of our country which belong to all of our people, not merely those who are now alive, but all those who are coming later.’”

The Forest Service and the Institute have collaborated on a number of groundbreaking projects over the years, including the development and implementation of stewardship contracting authorities made permanent through the 2014 Farm Bill; evaluating certification standards on state, tribal, and federal lands; studies identifying opportunities to evolve the institutional and policy framework to support timely and effective implementation of adaptation strategies for both public and private forest lands, among other initiatives.

The agreement also notes, “While we have worked with many important foundations and agencies over the decades, renewing our partnership with the US Forest Service celebrates a shared commitment to conservation that began 60 years ago. We are excited to be part of the vision this leadership team is implementing.”

The mission of the Pinchot Institute is to strengthen forest conservation thought, policy, and action by developing innovative, practical, and broadly-supported solutions to conservation challenges and opportunities. 

They accomplish this through nonpartisan research, education, and technical assistance on key issues influencing the future of conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Pinchot Institute for Conservation website for information on its conservation research and policy programs.  Click Here to sign up for the Institute’s regular updates.

Visit the Grey Towers Historic Site (Pike County) and Grey Towers Heritage Association websites for more information on Gov. Pinchot’s life and conservation history in Pennsylvania.

(Photo: John Donahue, Executive Director of the Pinchot Institute for Conservation  and USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore.)

[Posted: May 17, 2023]  PA Environment Digest