KALISPELL, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte this week continued his fourth annual 56 County Tour as governor, visiting Flathead and Powell counties to highlight the importance of active forest management to reduce wildfire risk and fuel the state’s timber industry.
“When a forest is managed properly, we have less severe wildfires, more recreational opportunities, more wildlife habitat, and more jobs,” Gov. Gianforte said. “And as we better manage our lands, we increase timber yields to fuel our wood products industry – it’s a win-win for Montana.”
Gov. Gianforte talking with state forester Pete Seigmund at a forest management project in Kalispell
Touring a Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) fire mitigation project on state school trust lands, the governor received an update on the progress on the site funded by the state’s latest investment in active forest management projects across Montana.
Last spring, the governor signed House Bill 883 into law allocating $60 million over the biennium to significantly increase the pace and scale of management practices that improve forest health, reduce wildfire risk, and increase wildfire preparedness. Over 6,700 acres of forest is set to be managed across the state with funding secured from this allocation.
“What we’re really doing is lowering the potential for an intense fire in here. And then by treating all of the fuels after, we’re really lowering the risk that anything could get going in here at all,” shared Pete Seigmund, a state forester with the DNRC Kalispell unit.
DNRC Kalispell Unit State Trust Lands
Since Gov. Gianforte took office, DNRC has shown a steady and significant increase in the pace and scale of forest management. Earlier this year, Gov. Gianforte and DNRC Director Amanda Kaster announced the state placed over 36,000 forested acres under management in 2023, up from 11,000 in 2020 when the governor took office.
During the visit, the governor heard from foresters on the benefits of management for healthier forests and to produce commercial-value timber.
Spotlighting the wood products industry and visiting Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge yesterday, the governor toured the mill and talked with owners on the legacy of the family business and the importance of forest management to produce timber.
