The DNRC manages 6.7 million acres of land.
Our state forests are an integral part of Montana's natural resources. Using the Montana Forest Action Plan as our guiding document, we work to keep our forests healthy and sustainable for generations to come through cross-boundary forest restoration and management.
Our work supports cross-boundary, landscape-scale projects. Our stewardship approach promotes working forests that are resilient to disturbance and a changing climate. We provide information that is current, accurate, reliable, and grounded in the best available science, and communicate that information using intuitive, state-of-the-art public interfaces.
We value our relationships with both our internal and external partners and rely on the strength of these partnerships to deliver a coordinated approach to managing forests across ownerships.
DNRC Forestry and Fuels Project Activity Tracker
The Forestry and Fuels Project Activity Tracker details ongoing projects the agency has across Montana to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health including on state trust lands, collaborative efforts on federal lands through the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA), private partnerships through the Forest Stewardship Program, and wildfire protection efforts.
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The Montana Forest Action Plan
Fires, insects, and disease don't stop at fence lines. Neither should our management.
The Montana Forest Action Plan is the authoritative plan for addressing forest health and wildfire risk issues across all forested lands in Montana. Convening key statewide stakeholders and tribal nations to assess forest conditions and identify priority areas for focused treatment, the Montana Forest Action Plan provides recommended goals and strategies to help promote cross-boundary, landscape scale forest restoration and management.
Good Neighbor Authority
How does the Good Neighbor Authority play into forest management in Montana?
First authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill, the Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) allows states to utilize contracts to carry out forest and restoration work on both United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. This means DNRC can work across jurisdictional boundaries to address the forest health and wildfire crisis by increasing the pace and scale of forest management in Montana. Because 70% of the forestland in Montana is federally owned, the ability to leverage our resources and work collaboratively with our federal partners is crucial.
Trust Lands Forest Management
A statewide team of foresters, managers, hydrologists, biologists, and planners collectively manage over 793,000 acres of forested state trust lands for the benefit of the common schools and other institutions in Montana. As state trust land managers, they work under the direction of the Board of Land Commissioners. The Forest Management Program accounts for approximately 10% of the Trust Land Management Division’s total revenue.
Resources for landowners
Let us help you.
Montana has approximately 23 million acres of forested land, and nearly 20% of that land is privately owned. Well-managed woods provide more than just esthetics and recreational benefits. A healthy forest provides wildlife habitat, clean air and water, improves soil composition, and can yield timber among other benefits for generations to come if managed properly.
Whether you are looking to protect your home and property from the next wildfire or learn how to manage the urban forest on your property, DNRC has all the necessary resources and services to assist you.
Montana Forest Laws & Practices
DNRC's Forest Practices program provides the training and tools to protect water resources during forest management activities. DNRC service foresters work closely with landowners, managers, and contractors to:
- Implement voluntary Montana Forest Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Follow the Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) Law, Slash Law, and the Forest Practice Notification Law
- Improve forest health and create a resilient forest ecosystem through sustainable treatments