A study conducted by the USDA Forest Service highlights the importance of public forests in providing food and medicine to millions of people. Researchers estimated that over a ten-year period, about 9.25 million liters and 2000 metric tons of food and medicine were harvested from US forest public lands, accounting for almost two million servings per year. Subsistence harvesting, particularly in rural communities and Indigenous people, plays a crucial role in food security. The study underscores the need for better management and conservation of public forests to ensure sustainable use of natural resources and support the well-being of communities.
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How public forests in the U.S. nourish and heal millions
