The Forest Service’s handover memo process enables an outgoing agency leader to share information with their replacement.
The challenge of rotating Forest Service line officers is a well-known barrier to community and forest‐level collaboration. It takes time to develop good relationships, and when a key agency contact
is transferred, a collaborative effort can stall out while community members establish rapport with the new person. In 2006, (former) Chief Dale Bosworth issued a directive to Forest Service employees to use a leadership transition process when leaving their post. Specifically, he asked those in key leadership positions‐‐ Forest Supervisors, District Rangers, Research Program
Leaders, State and Private Forestry field representatives, and Staff Directors at national and regional levels who work extensively with partner and cooperator networks‐‐ to prepare a handover
memo for the incoming employee.
National Forest Foundation, Conservation Connect
