U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue issued a memorandum to Forest Service chief Vicki Christiansen providing direction that will serve as a blueprint to help modernize the agency’s systems and approaches to ensure that national forests and grasslands continue to meet the needs of the American people, the agency said in a statement on June 12.

“Under this Administration, the Forest Service has sold more timber than we have in the last 22 years and made significant increases in our hazardous fuels treatments and active management of our national forests. While I am proud of our progress to promote active management, reduce hazardous fuels, work across boundaries and increase the resiliency of our nation’s forests and grasslands, I believe more can be done,” Perdue said. “Today, I am announcing a blueprint for reforms to provide further relief from burdensome regulations, improve customer service and boost the productivity of our national forest system.”

The secretary’s direction will encompass four areas of the agency’s work:

“Our mission delivery today includes a whole range of values and benefits that people expect from their forests and grasslands,” Christiansen said. “The secretary’s direction will help ensure we are providing healthy, resilient forests and grasslands that continue to deliver on the goods and services the American people want and need while also supporting communities, public access and fire-adapted landscapes.”