Securing the U.S. Forest Service’s Role in Natural Climate Solutions

Advancing forest-based natural climate solutions at scale requires strong leadership, effective partnerships, and coordinated support networks. The U.S. Forest Service is foundational to this work, managing 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands while supporting stewardship across hundreds of millions of additional acres through funding, research, technical assistance, and partnerships.

 Tribal Nations, states, private landowners, and conservation partners rely on Forest Service expertise and resources to protect, restore, and sustainably manage forests. However, the agency’s ability and capacity to advance natural climate solutions is under pressure, raising the importance of understanding what needs to be strengthened or created for the future. These challenges underscore the need to strengthen existing networks, maximize available expertise, and explore new approaches to collaboration.

VCI is bringing together leaders from across sectors to reimagine how the U.S. Forest Service can have its greatest impact in advancing forests and wildlands as a natural climate solution. Participants will represent Tribal Nations; federal, state, and local agencies; private landowners; the forest products industry; finance and technology; conservation and watershed organizations; impacted communities; research; and philanthropy.

Together, participants will step back from day-to-day responsibilities to build relationships, exchange perspectives, and explore new ways of working together. This time to connect and reflect will create space for thoughtful dialogue, innovative thinking, and collective action toward a stronger, more resilient Forest Service and partner network.