HELENA — Montana and federal land management officials are expanding their partnership to manage forests and public lands across the state.
Gov. Greg Gianforte joined Bureau of Land Management Director Steve Pearce and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director Amanda Kaster at the Montana State Capitol on Monday to sign a new memorandum of understanding strengthening the state’s partnership with the BLM through the Good Neighbor Authority.
The Good Neighbor Authority provides a framework that allows state and federal agencies to work together on forest and rangeland management projects.
Under the new agreement, the state and BLM plan to increase collaborative work aimed at expanding timber production, restoring forests and watersheds, reducing hazardous fuels and improving wildlife habitat on public lands.
“When we actively manage our forests, we reduce hazardous fuels, support healthier habitats, and get more timber to our mills, all while protecting our communities, creating jobs, and leaving our public lands in better shape than we found them,” Gianforte said.
Officials say the strengthened partnership is intended to increase the pace and scale of forest and rangeland management while also addressing wildfire risk.
The agreement builds on previous cooperation between Montana and the BLM. According to officials, the agencies have worked together under previous Good Neighbor Authority agreements since 2019 on projects including timber sale administration, fuels reduction and prescribed fire support.
The partnership also allows revenue generated through timber sales to be reinvested into project planning, restoration work and other improvements on the ground.
Officials say the expanded agreement will allow the state and BLM to take on more forest management work across Montana, with an emphasis on wildfire resilience, forest health and supporting the state’s forest products industry.
