The recent passage of the EXPLORE Act, which includes provisions from the bipartisan Treating Tribes and Counties as Good Neighbors Act, represents a significant step in enhancing forest restoration and management across the U.S.
The new law extends eligibility for the Forest Service’s Good Neighbor Authority GNA to tribes and counties, allowing them to participate in federal forest restoration projects alongside states. This will improve wildlife habitats, reduce wildfire risks, and promote healthier forests.
Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez D-Skamania and Russ Fulcher R-Idaho led the effort, highlighting the importance of cross-boundary collaboration in forest management.
Gluesenkamp Perez emphasized that wildfire and natural disasters do not discriminate between federal and non-federal lands, making this expansion crucial for comprehensive landscape restoration.
Previously, tribes and counties were restricted in their ability to retain project receipts for reinvestment, which limited incentives for their involvement in forest management. The new legislation rectifies this, ensuring that tribes and counties can reinvest funds in authorized restoration projects.
Additionally, it restores the ability to conduct restoration work on non-federal lands, which is vital for maintaining the overall health of national forests.
The legislation has received widespread support from various stakeholders, including environmental groups, tribal leaders, and county officials. Local communities, like the Cowlitz Tribe and Skamania County, have praised the bill for empowering tribes and counties to take on more forest and habitat restoration projects, contributing to the long-term health and sustainability of federal forests.
Washington state Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, who signed the first GNA agreement in 2017, lauded the bill as a crucial tool for addressing forest crises, promoting climate action, and creating local jobs. Kacey KC, president of the National Association of State Foresters, also praised the legislation, calling it a vital step toward unlocking the full potential of the GNA as a cross-boundary restoration tool.