Chris Evans

URBANA, Ill. — Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a substantial reorganization of the Forest Service, moving its headquarters to Salt Lake City, Utah, and closing its existing regional offices. According to the announcement, the move is designed to move leadership “closer to the forests and communities it serves.” Chris Evans, forestry expert with University of Illinois Extension in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, explains the role of the Forest Service and how the change could affect public lands. …”Anytime there is a shift of this scale, there will be an adjustment period. I hope that all of the vital missions and services that the Forest Service provides will continue uninterrupted, but we will have to see how things shake out. For forests of Illinois, the research being conducted by the Forest Service’s Northern Research Station is incredibly important, as it looks at oak ecosystem sustainability and invasive species management…”