Governor Brad Little, U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz, and Idaho Department of Lands Director Dustin Miller have signed a renewed and expanded Shared Stewardship agreement aimed at increasing forest management activities across Idaho. The agreement builds on the state’s previous work with the Good Neighbor Authority and marks a new phase in collaborative efforts to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.
“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. 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 in Idaho, and we’re just getting started,” Governor Little said.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated, “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,” adding, “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. By doubling timber production through Good Neighbor Authority and speeding up active management, we’re protecting Idaho families, supporting rural jobs, and making our forests stronger for generations to come.”
Chief Tom Schultz highlighted the goals 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 that is 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 adjacent lands that depend on them.”
IDL Director Dustin Miller added: “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 updated agreement establishes a stronger framework for collaboration between state agencies and federal partners like the U.S. Forest Service. It aims to advance forest restoration projects, increase active management practices such as thinning or harvesting trees, accelerate restoration activities across both public and private lands in Idaho, as well as reduce wildfire risks near communities.
Building upon progress since 2018—when Idaho became first in signing a Shared Stewardship Agreement—the new pact reaffirms both sides’ commitment to managing landscapes proactively amid longer fire seasons.
Under its terms, annual sustainable timber sale volumes could reach up to 100 million board feet within five years—doubling current output using authorities like Good Neighbor Authority (GNA). This effort supports national goals set by President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14225: Immediate Expansion of Timber Production—which seeks a 25% increase in timber harvests from national forests by fiscal year 2028—and further details can be found at https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-shared-stewardship-agreement.pdf.
A more comprehensive statewide GNA agreement is also planned under this framework to identify funding sources more effectively while improving project planning coordination across all seven national forests managed by IDL.
Since its launch in 2016, IDL has established one of America’s largest GNA programs—now holding agreements covering 32 million acres statewide with both National Forests & BLM—to restore forest & watershed health throughout Idaho.
The Shared Stewardship model focuses on cross-boundary solutions for challenges such as wildfires or insect outbreaks through joint planning & decision-making among partners—supporting local economies & safeguarding resources essential for residents’ livelihoods.
