Mission and
Responsibilities
History
of Division
Number of
Employees
and
Assigned
Areas
2023
Accomplishments
FY2022-2023
Sources of
Funding
Contact
Information
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Steve Troxler, Commissioner
North Carolina Forest Service
www.ncforestservice.gov
The mission of the North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) is to protect, manage and promote
forest resources for the citizens of North Carolina. There are 1 8.7 million acres of forestland in
North Carolina, most of which is owned by private landowners. The NCFS is responsible for protecting
state and privately-owned forestland from wildfires, forest pests and diseases; regulating certain
open burning; and providing forestry services and advice to forestland owners and operators. The
NCFS also provides emergency response resources and expertise for all-hazard incidents such as
hurricanes, tornadoes, ice and snowstonns and infectious diseases.
In 1777, the first North Carolina forest fire protection law was enacted. The Forestry Division
was created in 1908 as part of the North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey. In 1921,
the North Carolina Legislature appropriated the first funds -- less than $3,000 — for fire
protection. In 1955, North Carolina signed a compact with other southern states for mutual aid
in fighting forest fires. Fourteen years later. North Carolina became the first state to receive
legislative authority and funding to provide forestation work for landowners. In 2011, the
division was transferred from NCDENR to NCDA&CS.
The NCFS has 643 full-time positions and 66 seasonal positions. Approximately 94% of all
positions are field positions. Position types include foresters, forest technicians, law enforcement,
mechanics, forest fire equipment operators, pilots, radio engineers and administrative. Tire NCFS
is divided into program and geographical areas. Through a cooperative program with county
governments, programs are delivered at the local level in all 100 counties. As of January 2024, 103
positions were vacant. At any point during the course of a year, we are at an 80-85% staffing level. One
out of every seven jobs in our workforce is vacant.
• NCFS personnel suppressed 4,67 1 wildfires across the state, protecting life and property in and around
the 69,690 acres burned by these wildfires.
• In FY22-23, S2.74 million in funding was allocated for 986 cost share projects on
66,120 acres across the state. This was made possible through the N.C. Forest Service Forest
Development Program, North Carolina’s flagship tree-planting initiative, Southern Pine Beetle
Prevention Program, the Florence Reforestation Funding Program, Foresters for Healthy Waters and
the American Forests Program.
• The NCFS provided 5, 141 woodland management plans to private forest landowners. These
management plans cover approximately 320,664 acres across the state.
• Approximately 1 ,295 forest management projects on 59, 1 1 8 acres across the state were completed
with assistance from the NCFS.
• North Carolina state forests welcomed nearly 1 .412 million visitors in FY22-23.
• NCFS personnel participated in more than 2,500 educational outreach events, programs and meetings
involving landowners, civic and school groups, organizations, cooperators and the public.
• NCFS personnel conducted 5,579 forestry inspections and reinspections to protect water quality on
153,628 acres across the state.
1. Appropriations - $62,552,130*
2. Nonfederal Receipts* - $14,656,110
3. Federal Receipts* - $6,434,342
Total Budget: $83,642,582
* Appropriations include S 12,526,731 in carryforward funds.
* Nonfederal receipts as of
6/30/2023.
The majority arc collected through a cooperative program
with county governments. Receipts are not collected unless matching appropriations are first
spent.
* Federal receipts in expenditures through
6/30/2023.
Greg Hicks Assistant Commissioner
Phone: 919-857-4844; Fax: 919-857-4802; E-mail: greg.hicks@ncaor.gov
Updated January 2024