Congress Takes Another Positive Step for Federal Forests

The group behind the creation of our national forest system - the Boone and Crockett Club - today applauds Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) for introducing legislation to improve the highly-regarded Good Neighbor Authority.

The new bill titled the Good Neighbor Authority Improvement Act will strengthen the Forest Service's ability to partner with states on forest health projects to improve forest habitat for big game, game birds, and other wildlife. The legislation improves the original Good Neighbor Authority enacted in the 2014 Farm Bill, which allows states to speed projects from planning to execution, better fund the process, and strengthen collaborative support for beneficial and necessary projects that continually face the threat of being bogged down in litigation.

"As the management budget of the Forest Service is depleted by larger and more devastating wildfires, it is increasingly important to allow states to lend a hand in federal forest restoration," said Ben B. Hollingsworth Jr., president of the Boone and Crockett Club. "The Good Neighbor Authority Improvement Act will allow states to work on a broader array of projects to create healthier forests. This is good for the health and vitality of our federal forest public lands, our water quality, the wildlife living there, and everyone who relies on these lands for outdoor recreation."

Meaningful forest management reforms meant to strengthen the Forest Service's ability to restore the Nation's forests and improve their resilience to destructive wildfires must be a part of any solution Congress enacts.