GovCast: How Data Modernization Supports Forest Health at USDA

The Forest Service’s mission as lead federal agency in natural resource conservation includes oversight of 193 million acres of public lands and 600 million acres of forests across the U.S.

A big mission for the service is wildfire management, which requires modern technology to monitor millions of acres and share information between the departments of Agriculture and Interior and also the public.

The 100-year-old agency is transforming its technology and data operations to make more data available by closing tech gaps, removing legacy systems and improving interoperability for even the most remote and rural environments. Assistant CDO for the Natural Resources and Environment Mission Ramona Carey discusses the data landscape, where emerging technology fits in to her priorities and how data modernization is underpinning critical conversation efforts.