Harris Sherman
Agriculture Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman announced Monday that he will be leaving USDA.

As undersecretary, Sherman has overseen the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

In a statement, Sherman noted that under his tenure, the Forest Service has published a new planning rule for management of the national forests and grasslands, and the NRCS has invested in large-scale conservation from the Chesapeake Bay to the Everglades to the Bay Delta.

The NRCS has also enrolled private working lands in conservation practices, assisted Gulf Coast states and landowners in addressing water quality impacts to the Gulf of Mexico, and responded to natural disasters from Hurricane Sandy to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, he noted.

In a statement to Forest Service employees, Harris said he would remain at USDA until May 8.

"I am a westerner at heart and, after four years, I am feeling a strong 'tug' from that direction, particularly from my family in Colorado and California," Sherman wrote.

"I marvel that in the face of declining budgets, record fires and temperatures, and challenging forest health conditions, we have achieved so much," Sherman said.

Although some of Sherman's actions have been controversial within the forestry industry, he listed the following "successes during the past four years:"

• "A new national planning rule that sets the framework for all future on-the-ground decisions.
• Conservation of vast landscapes and watersheds across our national forests as part of the president’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative.
• Accelerated restoration of millions of acres within national forests to combat bark beetles, invasive species, and address climate variations which in turn will reduce the threat of wildfire.
• New public/private partnerships with water utilities, electric utilities, recreation interests, ski resorts, major corporations, and [nongovernmental organizations] to assist in forest and watershed restoration.
• Expanded recreation opportunities across national forests and ski areas.
• Protection of Native American sacred sites and comprehensive consultation with Tribes.
• Creation of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps to work with partners to connect thousands of young people to the outdoors through targeted internships and career opportunities.
• Collaborative efforts with diverse stakeholders reaching consensus on forest restoration, resulting in fewer appeals and less litigation.
• Streamlining the Forest Service permitting and environmental review systems, thereby reducing costs, eliminating inefficiencies, and improving environmental outcomes."

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement that he appreciated Sherman's service and that Harris "led the way to a modernized forest planning policy that recognizes the multiple uses of our forests, and will lead to more resilient forests and greater rural economic opportunity."

Vilsack also said that Harris forged new partnerships "that have strengthened a collaborative approach to landscape conservation and forest restoration."

Sherman is the third high official to announce departure from USDA. The others are Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and Undersecretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager.

Merrigan and Tonsager are scheduled to leave on May 3.