Governor Steve Bullock unveiled a new forestry stewardship partnership to address pressing needs in forest management across ownership boundaries. A new strategic, planning strategy Forests in Focus 2.0: A Cross-Boundary Collaborative Approach builds on the momentum of Bullock’s original Forests in Focus Initiative with the intent to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration and management across ownership boundaries. One of the key components is state leadership through launching a Good Neighbor Authority Program. Bullock launched the Forests in Focus Initiative in 2014 after Congress passed the 2014 Farm Bill.
Over the past four years, the initiative has invested in 25 Forest Service projects that have produced 165 million board feet of timber, treated 300,000 acres, and generated 60 million dollars in state and federal taxes. On state and private lands, the initiative has treated 10,000 acres and produced 22 million board feet of timber. These activities have sustained over 3,000 jobs.
The 2014 Farm Bill established the Good Neighbor Authority that has since been clarified. The GNA outlines objectives and responsibilities that enables and directs state and local government to engage in projects with the Forest Service to facilitate cross boundary management.
As of June 2018, the Forest Service has signed 163 GNA agreements on 59 national forests in 25 states to complete a variety of restoration activities. The 2018 omnibus bill further expanded the GNA and other authorities, enabling us to do more work across boundaries.
“The work we have accomplished with the state of Montana through the Forests in Focus initiative and Good Neighbor Authority is a wonderful example of how we continue to enhance opportunities to work together for the benefit of the resources, communities and Montanans,” said U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Leanne Marten in a press release. “This cross-boundary, collaborative approach will further our ability set priorities and continue with our shared stewardship of broad landscapes.”
Read more on this from the Seeley Swan Pathfinder at https://www.seeleylake.com/story/2018/11/08/news/cross-boundary-forestry-collaborative-promotes-more-work-on-the-ground/4231.html.