Forest Magazine is a nationally distributed publication that explores issues pertaining to America’s system of national forests. The parameters of Forest Magazine are broad, but all our stories have a connection to some aspect of the Forest Service, whether it is forest management, policy, whistleblowers, profiles or views of Forest Service employees.

At the heart of Forest Magazine is solid journalism and compelling narrative. We strive to offer insights unavailable elsewhere. We bring an in-depth focus to the growing conflicts between humans and the forests around them. We recognize that there are usually many sides to these stories and we expect our writers to present a variety of voices in order to thoroughly represent the issue. One-sided or shrill environmental rants are not appropriate.

Our readers are environmentally intelligent and expect quality writing, thoughtfulness and depth. A significant number of our readers are Forest Service employees, but we enjoy a geographically diverse readership as well. Twenty-five percent of our readers are in California, 20 percent in New York City.

Recent Forest Magazine feature stories have included the unintended consequences of fighting forest fires, a controversy surrounding the return of national forest lands to the Klamath Tribe, a first-hand look at herbicide use in the Frank Church wilderness and an examination of decisions made by forest supervisors in the face of the ongoing drought in the southwest.

We welcome queries about any Forest Service region, but because so many national forests are located in the west, we are always seeking stories from underrepresented parts of the country. We have run stories about the national grasslands and the Florida everglades in recent issues.

Before submitting queries, please familiarize yourself with the magazine. Many of our feature stories are available on our web site. A sample copy of the most recent issue is available by request.

Forest Magazine is published quarterly by the conservation group, Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics.

Most features in Forest Magazine range from 1,500 to 2,500 words in length. We will occasionally run longer pieces. The editors weigh many factors when considering feature stories, such as the importance of the subject, interest to an informed general audience, and the skills and expertise of a writer who proposes a feature.

• News - 300 to 750 words. Each issue contains four to six brief news reports about forest topics. We seek topics of importance or with a strong human-interest element that generally have not been widely addressed by the mainstream press.

• Reviews - 200 to 700 words. We publish regular reviews of books, documentaries, films, and other media productions.

• Out There - 800 to 1000 words. A brief profile of a special place written by a person intimately familiar with that location paired with a photo essay. The place can be a national forest, a mountain range, a river, an ecosystem or some other identifiable location. This feature can spotlight an ongoing controversy in the area or a unique solution to a environmental problem. This feature may be suitable for a first person voice.

• Point of View - 1000 to 1500 words. We are always interested in hearing from Forest Service employees about their experiences working with the Forest Service. You may submit completed pieces for consideration for this column, or call or email to discuss the potential commentary.

• We publish a limited number of commentaries and essays. Please query as to the appropriateness of the subject matter you have in mind.

Forest Magazine reserves the right to edit all submissions; however, we work closely with contributors and strive to produce a final manuscript that satisfies the author as well as the editors.

We prefer high resolution color digital images and color transparencies. Negatives and glossy prints can be used, but are discouraged as final print quality suffers. All images should include a succinct explanation of the subject, information regarding photo credit and return information.

Payment for articles varies depending on the experience of the contributor and the amount of work a piece demands. Writers who have established relationships with Forest Magazine typically receive a slightly higher rate than first-time or occasional contributors. Basic rate is 30 cents per word. We pay a 25 percent kill fee for assigned articles that we find unacceptable. Basic rate for photos is $25 to $35 per published image. We pay $100 for cover photos. Payment is made upon acceptance of the article or photos. Contributors must submit an invoice, and new contributors must include their SSN on the first invoice.

We prefer e-mail queries sent to the attention of the editor accompanied by a writing samples and resume. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for a response. We are not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, and they will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.

We buy first North American serial and electronic rights for articles and copyright them under the name Forest Magazine. Articles published in Forest Magazine cannot be reproduced elsewhere without our written permission. We will sometimes publish excerpts from books or articles that have appeared elsewhere.