The U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, signed a 20-year shared stewardship agreement that expands cross-boundary forest management and provides a framework for coordinated work on Alaska forests and communities, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
The agreement will allow Alaska to implement projects on up to 300 thousand acres across the Tongass National Forest through Good Neighbor Authority. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said the agencies will actively manage the Tongass to create healthy forests while contributing to a stable rural economy.
The agencies said they will develop a timber action plan by the end of 2026 that identifies priority projects on the Tongass. The plan is set to include reliable timber offerings and an evaluation of longer-term contracting options.
The partnership will also cover fuels reduction and wildfire mitigation, response to insect and disease threats, infrastructure development and access, workforce training, investment in milling and harvesting technology, technical assistance to private and non-federal landowners, and coordination on wildlife habitat, recreation, and authorized development activities.
The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection manages 20 million acres of state lands and provides fire protection across 154 million acres statewide. The Forest Service manages the 5.4-million-acre Chugach National Forest and 16.7-million-acre Tongass National Forest.
