GNA Information and Resources

Introduction

The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is an important partnership tool enacted by Congress with the intent to increase the pace and scale of forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration across jurisdictional boundaries.

Permanently authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill and amended in subsequent legislation, GNA enables States, Counties, and Indian Tribes to act as an agent of the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service to complete authorized restoration services on federal and non-federal lands.

This webpage provides a repository of informational and educational resources about GNA for western state forestry agencies, federal agencies, and partners. 

GNA Spotlight - Wyoming

October 2024 

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The Sandstone Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Fuels and Forest Health Project is located on the Medicine Bow – Routt National Forest in southeast Wyoming. The project resides on the western slope of the Sierra Madre Range in one of the headwaters of the Colorado River. This portion of the Sierra Madre Range is dominated by aspen ecosystems. The entire landscape including the project area has seen little to no disturbance within the aspen stands for the last century. This has led to heavy conifer encroachment, and these aspen landscapes to succeeding to mixed conifer. The Sandstone GNA Project aims to restore these aspen landscapes by cutting and removing the conifer trees and mature dying aspen trees. This will support the regeneration of aspen trees, increase watershed protection, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce wildfire concerns. 

This project is completing cross-boundary fuels reduction on neighboring private lands as well. In 2022, Wyoming State Forestry Division (WSFD) was awarded a Community Assistance Funds Adjacent to National Forests Grant from the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service). In total, this project is treating 610 acres of Forest Service and private lands. Having one contract to complete vegetation management on different ownerships is crucial. It allows for increased efficiencies, cross-boundary management, and restoring these ecosystems at a landscape approach. The project included Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. 

GNA Spotlights and StoryMap

View the StoryMap below, or open the StoryMap a new window.

GNA Information and Resources

CWSF/WFLC Resources

• Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) GNA Committee
• New! 2024 Western State Forestry Agencies Good Neighbor Authority Activities and Accomplishments - CWSF staff and the GNA Committee partnered to develop a western synthesis of GNA activities and accomplishments across 13 state forestry agencies from the time each state began implementing GNA through the end of state fiscal year 2024. (View the 2023 synthesis.)
• GNA Frequently Asked Questions 
• Developing GNA Agreements 
• GNA Learning Series - Collection of recordings from the virtual GNA Learning Series, hosted by the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) in Fall 2020. 

Authorizing Language and Relevant Legislation

• GNA Authorizing Language (16 U.S.C. 2113a)
• Agricultural Act of 2014 - permanent GNA authorizing language
• Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 - roads reconstruction, repair, and restoration language
• Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 - counties & tribes language
• Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023  - BLM road reconstruction 
• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - $200 million in GNA funding for USDA Forest Service and BLM
• Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 - GNA expansion to include NPS and USFWS 

USDA Forest Service/BLM Implementation Tools and Resources

• USDA Announces Nearly $66M for Conservation Work with States, Tribes, Private Landowners as Part of Investing in America Agenda
• USDA Forest Service invests $20M to restore forests, reduce wildfire risk, and create jobs in 18 states
• USDA Forest Service Chief's August 2022 Letter Clarifying Partnership Agreements with Multiple Fund Types
• Good Neighbor Agreement Templates for State Cooperators
• BLM Update and Reissuance of the Good Neighbor Authority Policy Guidance  
• USDA Forest Service Chapter 80 Handbook - GNA Guidance - Effective Date: January 4, 2022 (entire section linked here)
• USDA Forest Service Good Neighbor Authority
• USDA Forest Service Region 5 Good Neighbor and Stewardship Agreements 
• USDA Forest Service Region 6 Guidance on Procedures Regarding Good Neighbor Authority Projects with Forest Product Removal
• USDA Forest Service Grants & Agreements Ecological Restoration Brochure
• USDA Forest Service Grants & Agreements Decision Tree

State Agency Resources

• Idaho
• Montana
• Oregon - January 2022 Report, December 2022 Update, January 2024 Update, July 2024 Update
• Washington - Fall 2021 Update, Winter 2022 Update, Summer 2023 Update, Summer 2024 Update
• Wyoming - GNA One Pager, Financial Plan Step-by-Step, Financial Plan Guide for Field Staff, Supplemental Project Agreement (SPA) Guide for Field Staff

Additional Resources

• National Association of State Foresters - GNA webpage
• National Forest Foundation - A Toolbox of Resources
• Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition - Use of Good Neighbor Authority Across the West (August 2021); Understanding Good Neighbor Authority: Case Studies from Across the West (September 2018)
• Western Governors' Association - Good Neighbor Authority and Disaster Recovery and Restoration - WGA Working Lands Roundtable Session

Contact Information and Submitting a Resource

To learn more about CWSF/WFLC GNA involvement, please contact Kelsey Delaney.

If you wish to submit a suggested resource for inclusion on this page, please complete our Google Form.