Frequently Asked Questions
What is ForMAP?
Forest Mapping and Accomplishment Portal (ForMAP) was released in late 2014 by the State and Private Forestry division of the U.S. Forest Service. It leverages existing SMART products and contracting staff in order to accommodate other State and Private Forestry programs, such as the Landscape Scale Restoration competitive grant program. The website portal houses

  • the Stewardship Mapping and Reporting Tool (SMART)
  • the Landscape Scale Restoration project reporting module (LaSR)
  • the Forest Health project reporting module(ForHealth)

There is potential to add other modules in the future.

Which web browser should I use?
According to USDA protocols, the only officially supported web browser is Internet Explorer. In order to support non-Windows platforms, the ForMAP developers built in support for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge,  and Mozilla Firefox.
How do I change my contact information?
When logged into ForMAP, you may access your user profile by clicking on your name in the top right-hand corner of the page. Personal information, such as Organizational Unit, Address, and Phone Number can be edited from the My Account page. If you need to change your Employee Type or Roles, please notify your ForMAP State or National Administrators.
I forgot my eAuthentication username/password
The ForMAP Help Desk cannot access eAuthentication or LincPass account information. eAuthentication user support is now completely self-service on the eAuthentication page. Simply click the appropriate help link when you reach the eAuth login page.
eAuth UserID retrieval link
eAuth Password reset link

How do I logout?
In order to protect your account from unauthorized access, ForMAP is a secure website using  USDA eAuthentication credential services. There is no “Logout” button, the eAuth Help Desk recommends closing out your web browser at the end of your ForMAP session.
What's NEW?

Current ForMAP Version: 6.0.0

New in LaSR, Impact Area Mapping is optional. When creating a new project, simply select “not required”
Along with 6.0, the new Prism website is also LIVE! Explore here

What is SMART?
The Stewardship Mapping and Reporting Tool (SMART) replaced the Web-Based Data Entry Tool, WebDET, in late 2012 by the State and Private Forestry division of the U.S. Forest Service (S&PF). It facilitates Forest Stewardship Plan creation and management, maintenance of a central spatial and attributes database, and one-time reporting through an online web application. 
Who can access SMART?
SMART is to be accessed and used by field foresters, state-approved forestry consultants, state forestry staff and administrators, as well as federal coordinators.
How do I get a SMART account?
In order to gain access to SMART, your account must first be approved by a state program administrator or a SMART National Administrator. If you think you may need access to SMART please contact your state Forest Stewardship Coordinator before applying for an account. If you are not pre-approved through a national or state administrator your account will be subject to screening by a SMART National Administrator.

In order to gain access to SMART you will need to either use an existing USDA eAuthentication account or create a new one: https://identitymanager.eems.usda.gov/registration/selfRegistrationForm.aspx?level=1 .  Once your eAuth account is established you may direct your browser to https://apps.fs.usda.gov/formap/, whereupon you will log in with your eAuth credentials and create a new SMART account.  Your SMART account will then be approved (or rejected) by a state program administrator or a SMART National Administrator.

How do I log into SMART?
Direct your web browser to https://apps.fs.usda.gov/formap/SMART and log on with your USDA eAuthentication credentials.
What is LaSR?
The Landscape Scale Restoration Projects module (LaSR) is for USFS personnel and state partners to create, track, and publicly disseminate Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) competitive grant project accomplishments. As of Fiscal Year 2015, the LaSR module replaced the State and Private Forestry’s National Information Center (NIC) Portal’s competitive grant reporting system. Information on the LSR program is available here – https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/landscape-scale-restoration.
How do I log into LaSR?
Direct your web browser to https://apps.fs.usda.gov/formap/ and log in with your USDA eAuthentication credentials.
How do you pronounce LaSR?
[ley-zer]
What is the Public LaSR portal?
The public LaSR portal is a website where anyone can search and view completed or published LSR projects.
What is ForHealth?
The Forest Health Project Accomplishments (ForHealth) is the third module within ForMAP, and the newest application that assists the U.S. Forest Service and its State and Federal agency partners to create, edit, and report on Forest Health Program. 
ForHealth replaces the Forest Health Protection Accomplishments Database (FAD) reporting system. All project accomplishments are to be reported in ForHealth going forward.
What’s new about ForHealth? The spatial component. A new mapping tool improves reporting details.
Do I need to create a ForHealth account if I already have a FAD account?
FAD and ForHealth are separate databases. If you do not have a ForMAP account, you will need to create one using your eAuthentication credentials. See our ForHealth User Guide explaining the full process.
What if I already have a SMART or LaSR Account?
If you already have a ForMAP account (SMART or LaSR roles), then you need to go to your user account page and request a ForHealth role. A ForMAP Administrator will then fulfill your request and grant you the appropriate role(s).
What happens to past reported FAD projects?
FAD projects were migrated to ForHealth in September 2017.  Past projects can be found using the Search tool.
When creating a new ForHealth record, notice that the fields are nearly identical to FAD, and guidelines for data input is the same.
Project Editor vs. Project Approver
There are three types of users within ForHealth: Project Editor from a State Forestry Organization, Project Editor from USFS or other Federal Organizations, or Project Approvers (USFS personnel only).

  • State Project Editors can do the following:
    – Search projects
    – Download project data
    – Create/Submit new projects
    – Upload treatment polygons in Map
  • Federal Project Editors:
    Have all the same capabilities as State Project Editors, except this user can also Add/Edit Accomplishments for projects within their own organization.
  • USFS Project Approvers:
    Project approves can perform all actions of that an Editor can, in addition to:
    – Approve/Reject submitted projects
    – Add funding to approve projects
    – Update/View Integrated Acres

* Users who are affiliated with an organization other than the USFS will only be able to search for and
download data for Projects from within their own organization

'Why can't I Delete a project?
There is no actual ‘Delete‘ action on a project.  If you need to “remove” a project it is recommended that a Project Approver either updates or changes an existing project.

** PLEASE avoid duplicating projects

How do I map Treatment Areas?
Depending on the feasibility of the project area and the activity type, the spatial data should represent the treatment area as closely as possible. Here are a few suggested guidelines:

  • Stand levels – Projects that have clearly defined stand-level boundaries should have those boundaries entered into the application.
  • Aerial application – Spray block boundaries can be entered directly to show the project area.
  • Individual tree based projects – Currently the ForHealth application only allows polygon (area) entries, and not points. If individual tree(s) or point(s) are the treatment, the individual point locations should be buffered to produce an area. Alternatively, a small polygon encompassing the locations could be created. No specific buffer guidelines are provided at this time and the local unit can best decide the size of appropriate buffer areas. If individual locations are buffered, the buffer would ideally reflect the size of the activity or treatment.

Users can only upload these shapes as a WKT (Well Known Text) format at this time.  For more questions about this, please see pages 16-25 in the ForHealth User Guide.

What is Prism?
The USDA Forest Service developed Prism to allow for interactive exploring of key accomplishments of the State & Private Forestry Programs; and discover a current assessment of landscape impacts in a way that is meaningful, spatial and readily consumable. PRISM is designed for State & Private Forest Program leadership, delivery partners, and beneficiaries who want to be informed and educated about how State Private Forestry programs are impacting the landscape. It is updated regularly to reflect the most current state of impacts available.
User experience includes downloading a report customized with detailed statistics of selected areas within the map.
What data is displayed in Prism?
The information presented through Prism originates from the State Forestry agencies that report to the Forest Service on the work they do to conserve, protect and enhance State and Private forestland across the country. Using a process of spatial analysis, Prism intersects mapped accomplishment areas with the map features in each GeoTheme, as well as with Priority Land areas. The result is that Prism calculates and stores 29 values for each mapped area in the 5 GeoThemes.
This means that there are over 3.6 million values to explore in Prism!

Forest Stewardship Data
Authorized in the 1990 Farm Bill, the Forest Stewardship Program is a partnership between the USFS and State Forestry Agencies to deliver technical assistance to forest landowners. The primary form of this assistance is the development of a written Forest Stewardship Management Plan. Additional technical assistance is delivered through Landscape Stewardship Plans, Other Management Plans, and Projects. State Forestry agencies submit data about these accomplishments to the Forest Service annually and these data become inputs to Prism calculations.

Landscaped Scale Restoration Data
Landscape Restoration (or Landscape Scale Restoration) is implemented via a competitive grant process the Forest Service uses to fund forest conservation projects. Projects can range from forest stewardship, forest health, urban forestry or wildfire mitigation and have the flexibility to incorporate all State and Private Forestry program areas. Project Impact Areas are intended to address resource concerns across all ownership and at a landscape level. State Forestry agencies submit data about these Projects to the Forest Service (at least) annually and these data become inputs to Prism calculations.

Priority Lands Data
State Forestry agencies are required to develop a Forest Action Plan to address resource concerns as well as prioritize important forest resource areas, also known as “Priority Lands”. Each State submits its Priority Lands data to the Forest Service and this data becomes a key input in Impact calculations for Prism.

What are the Programs in Prism?
There are two Programs supported within Prism, the information can also be viewed independently or by combination of “All Programs” to see the full impacts of both

  • Forest Stewardship
  • Landscape Scale Restoration
What are GeoThemes?
Different people care about different geographic areas of interest, depending on the problems they are trying to solve. Therefore, Program Impacts are calculated for each mapped area within five GeoThemes in Prism:

  • Region
  • State
  • County
  • Congressional District
  • Watershed
What are Impacts?
  • Number of Accomplishments
  • Acres of Accomplishments
  • Acres of Priority Land Impacted
  • Percentage (%) of Priority Land Impacted
What is the purpose of the Forest Stewardship Program?
The Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) encourages long-term stewardship of important State and private forest landscapes, by assisting landowners to more actively manage their forest and related resources. FSP provides assistance to owners of forest land and other lands where good stewardship, including agroforestry applications, will enhance and sustain the long term productivity of multiple forest resources and produce healthy, resilient forest landscapes. The program provides landowners with professional planning and technical assistance they need to keep their land in a productive and healthy condition.

For more information on the Forest Stewardship Program, visit the FSP home page at https://www.fs.fed.us/managing-land/private-land/forest-stewardship

Forest Stewardship Plans and SMART
Forest Stewardship plans lay out strategies for achieving unique landowner objectives and sustaining forest health and vigor. Actively managed forests provide timber, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, recreational opportunities and many other benefits for landowners and society.