Trump administration plans to transfer more forest management to states – Center for Western Priorities

Report on U.S. Forest Management Policy Shifts and Sustainable Development Goal Implications
Executive Summary
Recent policy directives from the U.S. Forest Service indicate a significant strategic shift towards decentralizing the management of national forests. This report details the new partnership models, associated budgetary reallocations, and their potential impacts on the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Devolution of Forest Management and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The administration is actively pursuing long-term, large-scale agreements to transfer forest management responsibilities to state and private entities. This strategy is presented as a new framework for achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by fostering collaboration.
- Montana Agreement: A 20-year agreement has been signed with the state of Montana, granting it management authority over 200,000 acres of national forest land for activities including logging and wildfire response.
- Expansion Plans: U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz announced plans to establish up to 40 similar agreements with various state and private partners.
- Unprecedented Scale: While partnerships are not a new practice for the Forest Service, the duration and expansive scope of these new agreements represent a significant departure from previous models.
Budgetary Realignment and its Impact on SDG 15: Life on Land
The policy shift is accompanied by significant changes in federal funding, which may challenge the long-term sustainability of these new partnerships and undermine conservation efforts central to SDG 15 (Life on Land).
- Cost Burden Transfer: A greater share of the financial responsibility for forest management is being transferred to state and local governments, as well as non-profit partners.
- Elimination of Grant Programs: The proposed 2026 budget for the Forest Service includes the elimination of critical grant programs that provide funding to support state-level forest management activities.
- Threat to Sustainable Management: The reduction in federal financial support raises concerns about the capacity of state and local partners to sustainably manage these lands, protect biodiversity, and combat deforestation and land degradation as outlined in SDG 15.
Implications for Wildfire Management and SDG 13: Climate Action
The reduction in federal support directly affects climate resilience and adaptation efforts, particularly in the area of wildfire management, which is a critical component of SDG 13 (Climate Action).
- Reduced Mitigation Support: The Forest Service is already scaling back support for essential services, including wildfire mitigation and preparedness.
- Uncertainty of Funding: The agency has indicated uncertainty regarding the disbursement of congressionally approved wildfire preparedness grants for at-risk communities.
- Increased Vulnerability: These funding challenges, coupled with ongoing incidents such as major wildfires in two national parks and complex fire management situations in the Grand Canyon, highlight an increasing vulnerability to climate-related disasters, directly impacting the goals of SDG 13 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Related Developments in Public Land Management
Several other recent developments reflect the complex and often conflicting approaches to managing public lands and natural resources.
- Fossil Fuel Exploration: The administration is considering opening new areas in California to oil and gas drilling. This policy direction is in direct conflict with the objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
- Gender Equality in Conservation: In Wyoming, an all-female “Forest Corps” has been established by a non-profit to fill gaps left by federal agency budget cuts. This initiative advances SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). However, program leadership noted it is a “band-aid” solution to systemic funding shortfalls rather than a net increase in conservation workforce.
- Conservation Funding and Access: A new Utah law requires visitors to possess a hunting or fishing license to access state Wildlife Management Areas, creating a new revenue stream for state-level conservation efforts aligned with SDG 15.
- Protection of Public Lands: A proposal to sell public land in Nevada was met with significant public opposition, underscoring community commitment to protecting natural heritage as a key tenet of SDG 15.
Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 15: Life on Land
This is the most central SDG, as the article’s primary focus is on the management of national forests. It discusses policies related to logging, wildfire response, conservation, and the overall stewardship of terrestrial ecosystems.
SDG 13: Climate Action
The article repeatedly mentions wildfires, which are a significant climate-related hazard. The discussion on cutting funds for wildfire mitigation and preparedness directly relates to strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change impacts.
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The article explicitly details a shift in governance and partnership models. It describes new long-term agreements between the federal government, states, and private partners for forest management, highlighting changes in financial responsibilities and collaboration strategies.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
The article touches upon the safety and resilience of communities, particularly through its mention of cutting “wildfire preparedness grants that have already been approved by Congress for at-risk communities.” This directly impacts the ability of communities to withstand natural disasters.
SDG 5: Gender Equality
A connection to this goal is made through the headline “All-female ‘Forest Corps’ fills federal agency gaps for Wyoming trail projects.” This suggests an initiative promoting women’s participation in the environmental management and conservation sector.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
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SDG 15: Life on Land
- Target 15.2: “By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.” The article directly addresses this by describing a “new 20-year agreement with Montana that allows the state to manage 200,000 acres of national forest for logging, wildfire response, and other priorities.“
- Target 15.3: “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.” The focus on managing and responding to wildfires, such as the “Grand Canyon blaze,” relates to combating a major cause of land degradation.
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SDG 13: Climate Action
- Target 13.1: “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” The article highlights a potential weakening of this capacity, noting that the Forest Service is “eliminating support for critical services like wildfire mitigation” and that the delivery of “wildfire preparedness grants… for at-risk communities” is uncertain.
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SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
- Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The administration’s plan to “sign up to 40 similar agreements with states and private partners” is a direct example of promoting new public-private partnership models for forest management.
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SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce… the number of people affected and… direct economic losses… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.” The potential cancellation of “wildfire preparedness grants… for at-risk communities” directly undermines efforts to protect vulnerable populations from the disaster of wildfires.
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SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership…” The mention of an “All-female ‘Forest Corps’” and its crew lead, Monica Elliot, points to an initiative that promotes women’s participation and leadership in the forestry sector.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
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For SDG 15 (Life on Land)
- Indicator (related to Target 15.2): Progress in sustainable forest management. The article provides a quantifiable measure: “200,000 acres of national forest” in Montana are now under a new state management agreement. The plan for “up to 40 similar agreements” is another indicator of the scale of this policy implementation.
- Indicator (related to Target 15.3): The number and extent of wildfires. The article implies this indicator by stating that “Two national parks are being ravaged by wildfires.“
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For SDG 13 (Climate Action) & SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
- Indicator (related to Targets 13.1 & 11.5): Financial resources allocated for disaster risk reduction. The article points to a negative trend for this indicator by mentioning the proposed elimination of “grant programs that provide essential funding” and the uncertainty over the delivery of “wildfire preparedness grants.“
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For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
- Indicator (related to Target 17.17): The number and nature of multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article specifies “a new 20-year agreement with Montana” and a plan for “up to 40 similar agreements,” which serve as direct indicators of partnership formation. The detail that the administration is “shifting more of the cost burden to local governments and nonprofits” is an indicator of the changing financial structure of these partnerships.
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For SDG 5 (Gender Equality)
- Indicator (related to Target 5.5): Proportion of women in managerial or specialized positions. The existence of an “All-female ‘Forest Corps’” and the mention of its female “crew lead and program manager” serve as a qualitative indicator of women’s participation in the forestry sector.
4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
SDGs | Targets | Indicators Identified in the Article |
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SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.2: Promote sustainable management of all types of forests. | Area of forest under new management agreements (e.g., “200,000 acres” in Montana). |
SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. | Status of funding for wildfire mitigation and preparedness (e.g., elimination of “grant programs” and uncertainty over “wildfire preparedness grants“). |
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. | Number and type of new partnerships (e.g., “a new 20-year agreement” and plans for “up to 40 similar agreements“). |
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.5: Reduce the number of people affected by disasters. | Provision of disaster preparedness resources to vulnerable populations (e.g., status of grants for “at-risk communities“). |
SDG 5: Gender Equality | 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership. | Existence of programs promoting women’s participation in specific sectors (e.g., the “All-female ‘Forest Corps’“). |
Source: westernpriorities.org