National Forest Service - Department of Agriculture
In order to protect and preserve the Appalachian landscape, Congress passed the Weeks Act (1911) giving the federal government authority to create National Forests (http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/state_list.shtml) and includes the Jefferson and George Washington National Forests (http://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj), and the Cherokee National Forest (http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/cherokee/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=34868&actid=51). The Forest Service mission is captured by the phrase "Caring for the Land and Serving People." The mission, as set forth by law, is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people.
