Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation applauded the U.S. Forest Service’s Montana Tri-Forest Federal Sustained-Yield Unit management plan, which is intended to support the state’s timber industry and improve forest health.
“This is a key step to strengthen forest management and the infrastructure we rely on to keep our forests healthy and resilient,” Gianforte said. “A reliable timber supply supports good-paying jobs, keeps local mills running, and improves our ability to manage forests. Thanks to Chief Schultz and the Forest Service for their forward-thinking leadership.”
The sustained-yield unit spans the Beaverhead-Deerlodge, Custer Gallatin and Helena-Lewis and Clark national forests, where leadership from the three forests will coordinate to advance forest health through timber harvests processed within the unit’s boundaries. The plan is expected to produce a combined volume offer of 300 million to 500 million board feet of timber over the first 10-year action period.
During an event held last week in Missoula, DNRC Director Amanda Kaster joined Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to highlight the plan’s coordination among the three national forests, local governments, industry partners and community members to sustain forest products, recreation opportunities, wildlife habitat and the broader economic benefits tied to healthy forests.
“Healthy forests and healthy wood products infrastructure go hand in hand,” Kaster said. “When the processing capacity needed to utilize timber from restoration and fuel reduction work is maintained, it creates stronger outcomes for forest health and wildfire risk reduction.”
While the sustained-yield unit is a Forest Service-led initiative, the announcement aligns with the state’s broader partnership with the agency to manage forests and reduce wildfire risk. Montana and the Forest Service signed a Shared Stewardship Agreement in 2025 to advance coordinated, cross-boundary forest management aimed at accelerating restoration and reducing wildfire risk statewide.
DNRC also partners with the Forest Service through the Good Neighbor Authority program to manage and restore federal lands, supply timber to Montana’s forest products industry, and reinvest revenue into future restoration projects.
“Our Good Neighbor Authority program has proven to be an effective and reliable way to increase capacity, move projects forward, and support federal forest management goals,” Kaster said. “It remains a consistent and integrated part of forest management across landscapes and is central to our partnership with the Forest Service.”
The plan has drawn some pushback during the public comment process. At an April hearing in Helena, some industry representatives said the proposal lacks enforceable mechanisms to guarantee the projected timber volumes, while some environmental advocates raised concerns that an increased focus on timber production could divert attention from other forest priorities, including wildlife habitat and water quality.