WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA Forest Service and Sierra Pacific Industries signed a 10-year master stewardship agreement in support of reforestation work in regions 1 through 6. This long-standing partnership will help the agency increase capacity, as well as the pace and scale of the reforestation work it is seeking to accomplish through the national reforestation strategy and the Repairing Existing Public Lands by Adding Necessary Trees Act.  

The agreement incorporates the full suite of reforestation and supporting activities needed, from site preparation to providing and planting seedlings. Sierra Pacific Industries, located in Northern California, understands the challenges we face with wildfires. This agreement will also support implementation of the wildfire crisis strategy through planning, constructing and maintaining cross-boundary fuel breaks, and hazardous fuels reduction projects.  

Sierra Pacific Industries is well versed in what must be done to prepare a site for natural regeneration or planting, including salvage logging and herbicide use. This partnership will leverage our collective expertise and resources to achieve greater outcomes together. Together we will be able to increase post-fire recovery efforts through reforestation and revegetation, as well as expand our work to restore and protect existing forests by improving forest health and resilience against insect and disease and wildfire.  

For more information on supplemental project agreements at the region or forest level, please contact Stephanie Miller, assistant director for Future Forests, or Chris Dahl, assistant program manager for Reforestation and Nurseries.