"Forest Service Yanks $10 Million Contract To Boost Its Image"

"GRANTS PASS, Ore. - The U.S. Forest Service has abruptly decided not to spend $10 million on a five-year nationwide public relations campaign to brand itself as a public agency that cares about people and nature.

The agency was planning on the campaign at a time when it's struggling to pay for fighting wildfires, maintaining trails and offering timber for sale. It has also faced a major public backlash in the West over plans to close trails and roads to motorized vehicles due to a lack of money for maintenance, as well as to prevent erosion and protect fish and wildlife.

The Forest Service issued a statement Tuesday saying that it had not accepted any contract bids and would look for other ways to enhance the public's access to national forests and understanding about what the agency does."

Jeff Barnard reports for the Associated Press January 6, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"Agency Retreats From Contentious $10M 'Branding' Initiative" (Greenwire)