Our mission is accomplished through responsible management of the State's forested resources; by providing forest resource information and education to the public; and the protection of these resources for the continuing benefit of the State's citizens, visitors, and forest industry.

The statutory authority and guidance for the Division is set forth in Title XIX-A Forestry where it states the agency "shall execute all matters pertaining to forestry, forest management, and forestlands, within the jurisdiction of the State..." (see also Forestry Laws.)

These units of the Division are responsible for carrying out forestry activities on more than 200,000 acres of State-owned land, management of the State Forest Nursery, native plant protection, land acquisition and disposal, administering leases and permits for State lands, maintenance of the State land property records and boundaries, surveying, enforcement of forestry laws in the state, monitoring and responding to forest insect and disease infestations, forest fire control, management of four forestry education and demonstration centers (Fox Forest, Shieling Forest, Urban Forestry Center and Taylor Up-and-down Sawmill) and, statewide forest resource planning, implementing research-based outreach educational programs in forest stewardship, urban and community forestry and forest industry economic development.