GNA Information and Resources
GNA Information and Resources
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 - Arizona, July 2022
Authored by Christine Mares, GNA Coordinator, Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management
In July 2022, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) entered into a Good Neighbor Authority agreement with the Coconino National Forest to treat 31,000 acres of federal land and safeguard the municipal water source for communities in Central Arizona.
Presently, areas above the Mogollon Rim are thick with hazardous fuels. Fuels reduction in watersheds that feed the C.C Cragin Reservoir will reduce the risk of undesirable wildfire, improve forest health, water quality and availability, and wildlife habitat. Work involves the removal of merchantable timber, mastication of non-merchantable biomass, and repair and maintenance of forest roads. This multi-year initiative is a partnership with DFFM, the Coconino National Forest, the Town of Payson, and Salt River Project, a community-based not-for-profit water utility corporation.
For more information about this project, contact Christine Mares.
Photo Credit: Salt River Project
GNA Information and Resources
CWSF/WFLC Resources
- 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.
- New! 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
USDA Forest Service/BLM Implementation Tools and Resources
- New! Bureau of Land Management Update and Reissuance of the Good Neighbor Authority Policy Guidance
- New! USDA Forest Service Chapter 80 Handbook - GNA Guidance - Effective Date: January 4, 2022 (entire section linked here)
- BLM Update and Reissuance of the Good Neighbor Authority Policy Guidance
- 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
- Montana
- Oregon - January 2022 Report
- Washington - Fall 2021 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.