Forest Service Shuts 23 Research Stations

Forest Service Associate Chief Chris French said the research itself is not going away. "Our primary goal was to get our facilities costs under control," French told The Associated Press. "We're not closing any ongoing science activities. We're not closing any of the experimental forests that are important to our researchers."

Bill Avey of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees, who spent four decades at the agency, said the service has long struggled to pay for all its buildings and that some consolidation makes sense — but that leadership, including Chief Tom Schultz, should be defending forest research more loudly.

"He should be doing a much better job of pushing back and justifying and explaining some of the research work," Avey said. He added that the 41 retained facilities likely would have closed too without pressure from his group and others.

Rollins has argued the headquarters move will put leaders closer to the landscapes they manage and the people who depend on them. Conservation groups have criticized the changes, warning they could reduce access to forests and threaten wildlife habitat and clean air and water.