Forest restoration reestablishes or bolsters a forest’s natural ecosystem to maintain or achieve forest health. Forest restoration projects focus on managing invasive species and pests, preserving tree diversity, clearing underbrush, improving water quality, and more. Activities such as replanting trees and controlled burns are some of the tools used to achieve these goals.

Forest management is the administration of forests through planned human activities to achieve a specific goal. Activities include sustainable timber harvesting, or logging, to preserve forest health. When done strategically and sustainably, logging contributes to the well-being of our forests, communities, and environment.

Strategic removal of select trees helps reduce excessive growth and overcrowding, creating a better environment for healthy tree and plant growth. Additionally, removing dead and diseased trees can prevent the spread of damaging bacteria, fungi, and insect infestations.

The Capitol 360 project supports cross-boundary work on BLM, Forest Service, and private land to address years of fire suppression that led to overstocked stands and reduced forage for big game. 204 acres have been treated using pre-commercial thinning and hand piling to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health and wildlife habitat conditions.

The Threemile Game Range project supports cross-boundary work on Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks and USFS lands to address years of fire suppression that led to overstocked stands and reduced forage for big game. Stands will be treated to promote large ponderosa pine, reduce wildfire risk, and improve winter range conditions for big game.

Forests are an important source of clean, fresh water. Forest watersheds, forested areas where water is channeled through the trees and soil, act like a filter, removing pollution and debris before collecting in lakes, rivers, and streams. Watersheds also regulate streamflow, reducing the risk of damage due to stormwater runoff and flooding.

Forest restoration and management projects protect forest watersheds by restoring and/or maintaining the health of the forest, improving its ability to filter water. For example, a sustainable forest management project reduces the risk of a catastrophic wildfire that destroys trees and vegetation, resulting in increased soil erosion and ash and debris flowing into lakes, streams, and rivers.

The Basin Creek-Butte Watershed project was implemented by the USFS, DNRC, the City and County of Butte- Silver Bow, and other partners on the Beaver-Deerlodge National Forest lands. The project aimed to protect the Basin Creek Municipal Watershed, located south of Butte, which is a crucial source of drinking water for the surrounding community. This was accomplished by enhancing forest health and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires through thinning, harvesting, and installing fuel breaks using sustainable logging practices.

GNA also increases the capacity for necessary NEPA analyses, which are required for all federal projects before they can be implemented. Due to staffing and funding challenges faced by agencies like the USFS and BLM, GNA contracts with private environmental consulting firms to expedite these analyses.