Think about what affects your life. You may not immediately think of forests, but Year of the Forest: Human Connections will make you do just that.

It’s crucial to take an interest in forests because we depend on them for most things that we need to live – primarily water. Most of the water in the western U.S. comes from forested watersheds. And in our region, most of those forested watersheds are national forestlands.

The national forests are, after all, your land. They are not “forest service land” but “national forest land.” You and your fellow Americans are the citizen-owners and beneficiaries.

The exhibit panels explore the value that forests provide to people in the Intermountain West – starting with Native Americans who hunted game, gathered plants and relied on forests for firewood and shelter materials for 10,000 years. Today, people rely more and more on the forest, be it water for miners and agriculture or grazing areas for sheep and cattle.

The exhibit continues all year with two other installments. Starting May 14, Year of the Forest: Respectful Recreation, will examine a major modern use of forests – recreation. And, on Sept. 11, Year of the Forest: Healthy Habitats runs through Dec. 12.