Introduction
The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) is an important partnership tool available to the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) with the intent to increase the pace and scale of forest, rangeland, and watershed restoration across jurisdictional boundaries.
Permanently enacted in the 2014 Farm Bill and amended in the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations and the 2018 Farm Bill, GNA enables States, Counties, and Indian Tribes to act as an agent of the federal agencies 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 - November 2023, Idaho
Authored by Jon Songster, Bureau Chief - GNA, Idaho Department of Lands
The Scattered Lands Project was developed through a collaborative process of planning, prioritizing,
and implementing hazardous fuel reduction work under the Healthy Forest Restoration Act and Good Neighbor Authority (GNA).
The project area is located in Bonner County, Idaho on the Sandpoint Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. On August 19th, during red flag conditions, a human-caused wildfire started in an area recently treated through a GNA thinning contract and timber sale. Due to the removal of the ladder fuels, the fire stayed on the ground and was able to be contained at just 3 acres. Idaho Department of Lands fire crews used the adjacent Albeni GNA timber sale unit to construct a dozer line to contain the fire before spreading to adjacent residential properties and industrial timberlands private timberlands.
For more information, contact Jon Songster.
GNA Information and Resources
CWSF/WFLC Resources
- New! Western State Forestry Agencies Good Neighbor Authority Activities and Accomplishments
- 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.
- GNA Spotlight - View past project spotlights from western states and regions:
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 (Title IV General Provisions, Sec. 439 (pg 374))
USDA Forest Service/BLM Implementation Tools and Resources
- 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
- Bureau of Land Management 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, New! December 2022 Update
- Washington - Fall 2021 Update, New! Winter 2022 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.