Shared Stewardship
The USDA Forest Service developed a Shared Stewardship, outcome-based investment strategy to address the challenges facing today’s forest land managers. At its core, Shared Stewardship encourages us to work more deliberately with our neighbors and partners to expand forest restoration and treatments across boundaries, resulting in more resilient landscapes. Through Shared Stewardship we work with partners to coordinate and prioritize our work at the state level and pursue the right work in the right place and at the right scale, positively impacting outcomes for the future.
Shared Stewardship is an invitation to States, Tribes, local governments, partners and stakeholders to set landscape-scale priorities, leverage resources, and work across boundaries to improve forest and watershed conditions and protect communities. In the Intermountain Region, the Forest Service is working to improve forest conditions through Shared Stewardship in Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Visit the National Forest Service Shared Stewardship site for more information about Shared Stewardship nationwide.
Idaho was the first state in the nation to sign a shared stewardship agreement. The focus is on improving forest conditions in areas designated as “high risk” under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act. The State and Forest Service have identified two priority landscapes, one in northern and southern Idaho, where they are focusing investments. The Forest Service, NRCS, and Idaho Department of Lands have created multiple shared positions focused on aligning treatments on federal, state, and private land.
- Idaho Shared Stewardship Agreement
- Idaho Case Study
- Idaho Good Neighbor Authority Website
- Idaho Forest Action Plan
Utah was the third state in the nation to sign a shared stewardship agreement. The primary goal is protecting communities and drinking water resources from the threat of unwanted fire. Since October 2019, the State and Forest Service have jointly invested approximately $15 million in treatments in priority landscapes. Implementation of Utah’s agreement has been delegated to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands. A key focus is on identifying sustainable funding through partnerships.
- Introduction to Utah Shared Stewardship Video
- Utah Shared Stewardship Ensures Healthy Forests, Clean Watersheds, and Safe Communities Video
- 2022 Utah Shared Stewardship Agreement
- Utah Shared Stewardship
- Utah Case Study
- Manti-LaSal Timber Mine Timber Sale
Nevada has a shared stewardship agreement was the first to include NRCS and DOI agencies. Collectively, state and federal agencies have identified 13 priority areas using the State Forest Action Plan and other resources. Local planning groups have been established and projects have been initiated in the two highest priorities—Elko/Spring Creek/Lamoille and Spring Mountains/Parhump. In addition to focusing on mitigating wildfire risk, the Nevada Agreement includes goals around wildlife, resilient landscapes, invasive species, and recreation.
Wyoming is in the early stages of implementing its shared stewardship agreement signed in August 2020. An organizational structure has been established that includes an Executive Team and Advisory Committee. The State and Forest Service are currently working on identification of priority areas. The focus is on invasive species, wildlife, range, vegetation, and recreation management.