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.
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GNA Spotlight - Wyoming, April 2026
Harper Good Neighbor Authority: Where Coordination and Persistence Deliver Cross-Boundary Results
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Stateline Timber Sale April 2026. Photo: Rosa Forestry
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.
GNA Learning Series - Collection of recordings from the virtual GNA Learning Series, hosted by the Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) in Fall 2020.
