The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the State of South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) have signed a 5-year shared stewardship agreement that expands cross-boundary forest management and strengthens South Dakota’s forest products industry.
The agreement establishes the framework for the DANR and the Forest Service to combine skills and assets to work collaboratively toward mutual goals. This five-year program of work will jointly identify landscape-priorities, threats, and opportunities to address forests, rangelands, and grasslands’ health, wildfire risk, and rural development.
“South Dakota’s 1.95 million acres of forest and the vast grasslands and rangelands, which comprise 45% of the state, represent some of the most diverse and at risk landscapes in the country. With this agreement, we are aligning federal and state priorities to accelerate active management in high risk areas,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “By leveraging tools such as Good Neighbor Authority, we can increase the pace and scale of treatments that reduce wildfire risk, address insect and disease outbreaks, and strengthen community resilience.”
The agreement builds on the longstanding cooperative relationships rooted in shared goals of forest stewardship, wildfire prevention, resource sustainability, support for private landowners, and preserving the cultural values of local communities.
“South Dakota has some incredible natural beauty, including our healthy, resilient forests,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “This agreement reinforces our collaboration with the Forest Service to reduce wildfire risk, improve rangeland health, and support the state’s forest products industry.”
In support of President Trump’s Executive Order 14225, Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production, the agreement follows those in nearby states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and others across the country.
Following the initial 5-year term of the agreement, parties may then consider extension in increments of three years.
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