A $4.6 billion boost for the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service budgets in the 2010 appropriations bill includes a 16% increase for the Forest Service's State and Private Forestry programs. "This increased federal investment in America's forests from Congress and the President will help ensure that the public benefits forests provide continue to improve the quality of life for all Americans, today and into the future," said NASF president and Maryland State Forester Steven W. Koehn.