The division "protects and promotes the values provided by trees, forests, and natural communities.

[3] Other elements of the current Division of Forests and Lands date to at least 1917 with the establishment of a "white pine blister rust control program" (white pine blister rust is a tree disease caused by Cronartium ribicola).

[4] Since 2017, the division's parent agency has been the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR).

[5] Authority for the division comes from Title XIX-A, Forestry;[6] and RSA 217-A, New Hampshire Native Plant Protection.

[7] Per their mission statement, the division provides "responsible management of the State's forested resources; by providing natural resource information and education to the public; and through the protection of these resources for the continuing benefit of the State's citizens, visitors, and forest industry.