Forest Service, South Dakota Sign Stewardship Agreement 

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the State of South Dakota’s Dept. of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) have signed a five-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 atrisk landscapes in the country. With this agreement, we are aligning federal and state priorities to accelerate active management in highrisk areas,” comments Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz.

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,” Governor Larry Rhoden adds. “This agreement reinforces our collaboration with the Forest Service to reduce wildfire risk, improve rangeland health, and support the state’s forest products industry.”

Following the initial five-year term of the agreement, parties may then consider extension in increments of three years.