Better Reporting Needed on Reforestation and Timber Stand Improvement

GAO discussed the Forest Service's reporting of its reforestation and timber stand improvement activities. GAO noted that: (1) the Service did not provide specific guidance to regional offices on identifying and reporting reforestation and timber service improvement needs; (2) Service reports understated reforestation needs because it failed to report accurate information about areas requiring reforestation following forest fires or other natural disasters; (3) for fiscal year 1990, the Service reported that 1.2 million acres required reforestation or timber stand improvement; (4) nine Service regions used several methods to identify and report reforestation needs resulting from forest fires or other natural disasters; (5) each service region followed its own criteria for defining timber stand improvement needs; and (6) none of the regions certified and reported all reforestation and timber stand improvement achievements, making it difficult for Congress to accurately assess reforestation and timber stand improvement achievements.