GNA Spotlight - Wyoming, April 2026
Harper Good Neighbor Authority: Where Coordination and Persistence Deliver Cross-Boundary Results
Submitted by Jeremy Dedic, Forestry Partnership Coordinator, Wyoming State Forestry Division
The Wyoming State Forestry/BLM Harper Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) project is one component of a broader cross-boundary effort spanning Bureau of Land Management (BLM), state, and private lands. This project, which began planning in 2018 and commenced on-the-ground implementation in 2025, addresses significant fuel loading concerns and improves access across the project area. Additionally, these four timber sales complement recent treatments on the adjacent Black Hills National Forest.
The project area presented operational challenges, including poor road infrastructure, steep slopes, and seasonal timing restrictions. Dense, overstocked stands required varied silvicultural approaches, with multiple prescriptions applied across differing ownerships.
Project success relied heavily on local purchasers and their contractors. Sanford Logging implemented the adjacent USDA Forest Service project, while Neiman Timber Company purchased and executed sales on the Wyoming side of the state line. Neiman Timber worked closely with private landowners to secure both access and timber, utilizing multiple logging contractors to operate within narrow seasonal windows. Harvest activities will be followed by additional fuel reduction treatments to further reduce hazardous fuel loading.
In total, over 1,500 acres are being treated, producing approximately 4.5 million board feet of ponderosa pine. This project highlights the critical role that partnerships between land managers and the timber industry play in delivering landscape-scale outcomes.
The BLM and Wyoming State Forestry look forward to continuing work along the state line, capitalizing on shared strengths to expand cross-boundary treatments.
For more information, contact Jeremy Dedic, Forestry Partnership Coordinator, Wyoming State Forestry Division.
