Perhaps the least well-known type of marigold, signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia) offer simple color and compactness. They are great for window boxes, edging garden beds with color, and companion planting because they won’t shade anything out. Also known as lemon marigolds, some signet varieties give off a lemon scent when their foliage is bruised.

Urban and community forests include all publicly and privately owned trees within an urban or community area, such as public gardens, street trees, urban parks, landscaped boulevards and river and coastal promenades, among others. They make up an important component of America’s green infrastructure, supporting the health and function of cities and towns through the services that they provide. Acknowledging the ecological, economic, and social benefits of these forests, the Forest Service is dedicated to helping cities transition to a sustainable future.

The benefits that forests, grasslands, and other natural areas provide us are known as ecosystem services. It can be easy to take these free services for granted. The Forest Service is contributing to improved valuation and preservation of these services. By working on markets for ecosystem services and measuring and monitoring them, the Forest Service aims to improve decision-making that affects the use of ecosystem services.

Outdoor recreation contributes greatly to the well-being of Americans – getting outside has been proven to have psychological, physical, social, and economic benefits. Understanding its important role in providing recreational opportunities, the Forest Service carefully assesses the status of, and trends in, outdoor recreation. In order to continue providing recreation opportunities that citizens value, we need to understand how demands on our natural resources will change in the future and manage accordingly.

A component of the Forest Health Monitoring Program designed to determine the extent, severity, and causes of undesirable changes in forest health.

A program to help bring research results into practice by developing cutting edge technologies and field operation methods that provide field specialists with tools to restore and protect America's forests.

The Forest Service Pesticide Impact Assessment Program evaluates the benefits and impacts of pesticide use in forest environments.

A component of the Biological Control Program designed to develop methods and technologies that address the spread and impacts of invasive forest pests.

Aerial treatment operations- fixed wing aircraft applying pesticide over forest for Lymnatria dispar control. Courtesy photo from bugwood.org, USDA APHIS PPQ.

The Forest Health Protection staff of the USDA Forest Service has the responsibility of managing and coordinating the proper use of pesticides within the National Forest System (NFS). It is also responsible for providing technical advice and support, and for conducting training to maintain technical expertise.

Health & Safety
Pesticide Registration
Virus Products
Pesticide Use Risk Assessments & Worksheets

Mile-a-minute weevil (Rhinoncomimus latipes) on vine. Courtesy photo from bugwood.org, by Ellen Lake, University of Delaware.

The Biological Control program is tiered to the broader Forest Service's National Strategic Framework for Invasive Species Management as well as regional plans dealing with invasive species. The Biological Control program focuses its resources on a few insects and weed species that have the greatest potential for biological control.

Identify natural enemies for biological control of invasive species
Coordinate funding for biological control
Develop recommendations for the restoration of native plant species