Governor Brad Little joined U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz and Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) Director Dustin Miller today to renew and expand Idaho’s Shared Stewardship agreement with the federal government, aiming to increase the pace and scale of forest management across the state.
“Idaho’s early leadership with the Good Neighbor Authority laid the groundwork for an even more ambitious model — Shared Stewardship. We are building on a foundation of cooperation and resource-sharing and expanding that work across entire landscapes and ownership boundaries,” Governor Little said. “I am confident that our continued efforts and partnerships will deliver lasting benefits for Idaho’s forests and our rural communities. Idaho once again is leading the nation in collaborative, innovative approaches to improving forestlands, and we’re just getting started.”
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins highlighted the benefits for communities and forest health. “Idaho’s forests are some of the most important working lands in America, and this agreement is exactly the kind of partnership we need to keep them healthy and productive. For too long, federal red tape and hands-off policies left our forests overgrown and our communities at risk. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are fixing that.”
Chief Schultz emphasized the practical impact of the agreement. “We are excited for the next chapter of shared stewardship with the State of Idaho. This agreement will help us double the timber volume on National Forest System lands offered by the state through the Good Neighbor Authority, all while reducing wildfire risk across the state. By working hand-in-hand with the Idaho Department of Lands, we will design and implement timber harvest, thinning, and restoration projects that actively manage our forests and protect the communities and lands that depend on them.”
IDL Director Dustin Miller noted the broader benefits for rural communities. “Today marks an exciting new chapter in the State of Idaho’s Shared Stewardship work with the U.S. Forest Service and private landowners. This agreement presents new opportunities to significantly expand timber production and reduce wildfire risks across the most threatened forests in Idaho. The collaboration we’re embracing with our partners will give a boost to rural communities, strengthen forest health, and protect the people and places that depend on these lands.”
The renewed agreement establishes a strengthened framework for collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service and the State of Idaho. It outlines an expanded, long-term strategy to advance forest restoration, increase active management, and reduce wildfire risk across Idaho’s forests and nearby communities.