Search Results - A Toolbox of Resources - National Forest Foundation

February 4, 2022

Peer Learning Session: US Forest Service Partnership Authorities and Agreements (2/3/2022)

During this peer learning session attendees will: • Gain an understanding of recent changes to the Service First authority; • Hear overviews and examples of partnership authorities and agreements including Service First Authority, Good Neighbor Authority, Stewardship Agreements, and Shared Stewardship; and • Have an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers

November 10, 2021

Mixing & Matching Authorities for Success in Shared Stewardship peer learning session (November 1, 2021)

During this session, speakers described the authorities that can be useful for achieving success in Shared Stewardship, described the ins and outs of using these authorities, discussed the role of these authorities in advancing Shared Stewardship of our nation's forests, and answered questions from attendees about mixing and matching authorities for success in Shared Stewardship. Speakers included Lynn Sholty, U.S. Forest Service Grants and Agreements Specialist; Alison Leiman, U.S. Forest Service Business Operations Grants Policy Specialist; Cody Desautel, Intertribal Timber Council President and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Natural Resources Director; Phil Rigdon, Intertribal Timber Council Vice President and Yakama Nation Department of Natural Resources Superintendent; and Jon Songster, Idaho Department of Lands Good Neighbor Authority Bureau Chief.

August 25, 2021

Partnerships on Every Forest: Good Neighbor Authority

October 20, 2020

Shared Stewardship Peer Learning Series, Session 4: "Cross-Boundary Tools to Implement Shared Stewardship" (October 15, 2020)

During this session, speakers articulated successful applications of Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) for tribes, counties, and states; provided examples of when tools like GNA are unlikely to be successful; discussed how to use tools from the Tribal Forest Protection Act and the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act; discussed how to use Stewardship Contracting; and shared resources and guides to specific tools. Speakers included Rob Farrell, Virginia State Forester; Jim Durglo, Intertribal Timber Council Wildland Fire Technical Specialist; Lynn Sholty, USDA Forest Service Grants and Agreements Specialist; and Nils Christoffersen, Wallowa Resources Executive Director.

June 7, 2019

Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Lessons Learned peer learning session (June 4, 2019)

This peer learning session focused on lessons learned from across different geographic regions of the contiguous United States. Speakers shared their experiences working under GNA, best practices, and what the future looks like for operating under GNA. Presenters included: Dave Wilson, Forester for Forest Management, Range Management, and Vegetation Ecology, USDA Forest Service; Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Policy Analyst, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition; Ed Wingert, Idaho Department of Lands; Dave Sabo, District Ranger on Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF; Greg Kennett, Senior Project Manager, Ecosystem Research Group; and Karl Welch, Timber Program Manager and Contracting Officer on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

April 30, 2018

"Good Neighbor Authority" peer learning session (April 24, 2018)

In this session, speakers provide a general overview of the Farm Bill Good Neighbor Authority; describe basic requirements for implementing Good Neighbor Authority projects; share examples and characteristics of successful projects; and highlight lessons learned through experience with Good Neighbor Authority projects. Speakers include: David Lawrence, Timber Sales Analyst, USDA Forest Service; Lynne Sholty, Grants and Agreements Specialist, USDA Forest Service; Sheryl Bryan, Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist; USDA Forest Service; Jon Songster, GNA Program Manager, Idaho Dept. of Lands; Jarel Bruce, Good Neighbor Authority Program Specialist, Idaho Dept. of Lands; and Mo Bookwalter, Cohesive Strategy Coordinator, USDA Forest Service.

February 10, 2017

Early Lessons from the Good Neighbor Authority (February 9, 2017)

This peer learning session covered the nuts and bolts of the Good Neighbor Authority, a review of which states have master agreements available for use, and a more in-depth discussion of how this authority has been successfully used to achieve on-the-ground results in Montana and Oregon - and lessons learned along the way. [Keywords: GNA, Farm Bill, Good Neighbor]

June 17, 2016

Good Neighbor Authority in Oregon (June 17, 2016)

This peer learning session focused on the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) and the State of Oregon’s new master GNA agreement. Representatives from the Forest Service, Oregon Governor’s office, Department of Forestry, and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife addressed what the authority can and cannot do to help manage and restore federal forest lands and watersheds on Oregon, including initial thoughts about how Oregon may use the agreement and how the new tool could link with existing State-led work. The NFF intentionally hosted this session early in the agreement’s history between the State and the Forest Service to provide a forum for forest collaborative members to learn about this new tool, ask questions, and discuss concerns.

June 16, 2016

Good Neighbor Authority in Montana (June 16, 2016)

Through the webinar, participants learned about Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) basics, how the State, Forest Service and partners could work together to implement GNA in a way that works best for Montana, and what the new authority can and cannot do to manage and restore federal forestlands and watersheds in Montana. Speakers also shared scenarios to illustrate the type of projects that may be a good fit for GNA and what activities are allowable.

July 10, 2015

Rollout of the Good Neighbor Authority Agreement Templates (July 10th and 13th 2015)

The Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), reauthorized and expanded in both the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) and the FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, allows the U.S. Forest Service to partner with States to implement restoration projects across state-federal boundaries. The agreement templates that will be used to carry out projects under the GNA were subject to approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The PRA process provided opportunities for the Forest Service to develop and improve the agreement templates with state forestry and other partners. The agreement templates have been approved by the Office of Management and Budget and are ready for use with states to begin implementing projects under GNA. This peer learning session (which was held twice) introduced and discussed the agreement templates.