It is the policy of Congress that the national forests are established for outdoor recreation, range, timber, watershed, and wildlife and fish purposes. The statute’s purposes supplement the purposes set forth in §1 of the Forest Service Organic Legislation. [16 U.S.C. §528]

The statute directs the Secretary of Agriculture to administer the renewable surface resources of the national forests for multiple use and sustained yield of products and services. [16 U.S.C. §529]

“Multiple use” generally means utilizing of resources in a combination that best meets the needs of the American people, without impairing the productivity of the land, and considering the relative value of the various resources, and not necessarily the combination of uses that will give the greatest dollar return or the greatest unit output. [16 U.S.C. §531(a)]

“Sustained yield” generally means maintaining in perpetuity a high-level annual or regular periodic output of resources without impairing the productivity of the land. [16 U.S.C. §531(b)]