Thompson, U.S. Forest Service Chief Underscore Importance of Healthy Allegheny National Forest
Chief Christiansen looks to strengthen relationships, build upon success
WARREN, Pa. – U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT' Thompson welcomed U.S.Forest Chief Vicki Christiansen today to the Allegheny National Forest (ANF), and they underscored the need to keep the forest healthy and build upon past successes in the region.
Rep. Thompson, Chief Christiansen, and local officials toured the forest and discussed the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Master Agreement, timbering and forest management in the ANF, and the stalled Farm Bill. Chief Christiansen is the 19th Chief of the Forest Service.
"I appreciate Chief Christiansen's willingness to come to Warren County today and meet with us," saidRep. Thompson, Vice Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. "We all know how vital the forest is to the region and I am grateful we have an experienced leader in Chief Christiansen. She has an impressive background and I am delighted to welcome her to the Allegheny National Forest."
"I am thankful for our partners and work we have accomplished together on the Allegheny National Forest," Chief Christiansen said. "I look forward to strengthening those relationships and building upon past success for the economic benefit of our rural communities and the sustainability of our national forest."
Established in 1923, Allegheny National Forest (ANF) is Pennsylvania's only National Forest. Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains, the ANF is composed of plateau tops with elevations up to approximately 2,300 feet and valleys down to approximately 1,000 feet above sea level. The forest is approximately 517,000 acres and includes land in Elk, Forest, McKean and Warren counties in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania.
About Chief Christiansen
Vicki Christiansen was sworn-in on October 11, 2018 as the 19th Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. She had been serving as the interim Chief at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service in Washington, D.C. Prior to that she was Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry where she had oversight of Fire and Aviation Management, Tribal Relations, Forest Health Protection, Cooperative Forestry, Grey Towers and Conservation Education. She joined the Forest Service in 2010 as the Deputy Director of Fire and Aviation Management. Vicki has worked extensively on the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy bringing her experience as a line officer, land manager, wildland fire fighter and State Forester to the effort.