WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) is encouraging cooperation between the state of Wyoming and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to complete forest health projects on private, state and federal lands.

“Wyoming forests, like those of all states across the West, are facing unprecedented challenges. We need all the tools available to address wildfires, invasive species, watershed health and wildlife habitat,” Barrasso said.

State and federal agencies manage their lands separately. Currently, state and national foresters lack authority to work together on forest health projects. Barrasso’s “Good Neighbor Forestry Act” would allow the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to work with state foresters to complete projects that cross ownership boundaries.

“These challenges require big picture thinking. We need to work together as neighbors on all of our state, private and federal lands,” Barrasso said.

Administration officials from the Forest Service and BLM both testified in support of the bill during the Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee hearing.

Wyoming State Forester Bill Crapser also testified in support of the Barrasso bill. “The bill will allow us to be better stewards of the natural resources we are charged to protect and manage. At the same time it will allow us to most effectively put taxpayer dollars on the ground where they can do the most good,” Crapser said.

“Resource challenges do not stop at fence lines and neither should our policy,” Barrasso said.