National Forests in Florida

Starting July 12, contractors will be clearing thick brush from the longleaf forests near Paisley in the Ocala National Forest to restore the habitat to one more suitable for red cockaded woodpeckers and other species who need the open understory that a healthy longleaf pine forest provides.
This project is funded by the American Recovery Act. [...]

The Ocala National Forest is fortunate to host the Boy Scouts of America premiere honor society, the Order of the Arrow, this week. Working on a variety of projects throughout the forest as part of  “FourCorps 2010,” , these young men will be honored at a special event on Wednesday June 16 at River Forest [...]

The National Forests in Florida is preparing to welcome a new Deputy District Ranger to the Apalachicola National Forest.  Beginning June 7, Allen Smith will be stationed on the Apalachicola Ranger District in Bristol, Fla.

Smith, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service, started his career as a forester trainee in 1984 on the Ouachita [...]

A 56-acre wildfire caused by a lightning strike in the southwest corner of Big Gum Swamp Wilderness in the Osceola National Forest was 100-percent contained by U.S. Forest Service firefighters at 8 p.m. on May 10.
Aerial ignitions from a helicopter will be used today to prevent spot fires.
The wildfire was discovered at about noon on [...]

Press Release
Olustee, Fla. — A team of U.S. Forest Service firefighters immediately responded to and safely secured a wildfire in the southwest corner of Big Gum Swamp Wilderness that was discovered at approximately noon on May 9.
The fire was secured last night but the Forest Service will conduct a 3,000-acre burnout today on the western [...]