From the Office of Ryan Zinke

Originally authorized in 2009, the program has treated and restored 5.7 million acres of forests

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) and Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) introduced the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program Reauthorization Act of 2025, which would extend and expand a successful program focused on reducing wildfire risk, restoring forest health, and supporting rural economies through proven, locally driven strategies. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

Originally authorized in 2009, the CFLR program is a model of how communities, industry partners, landowners, and local governments can work together to improve forest conditions and prevent catastrophic wildfires. In its first decade, CFLR projects treated and restored 5.7 million acres of forest, improved 1,000 miles of trails, and maintained over 25,000 miles of forest roads helping keep public lands open and safe.

The CFLR Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 will:

• Extend the program for ten years.
• Increase support for collaborative, science-based forest projects.
• Expand the program’s reach to more high-risk areas.
• Improve project flexibility and reduce bureaucratic delays.

“Every year hundreds of thousands of acres of forest burn to the ground destroying landscapes, watersheds and homes. We can’t prevent every fire, but we can certainly manage our forests, so they are in better health and more resilient against catastrophic fires,” said Congressman Zinke. “The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program was a proven success that leverages public and private entities to grow more resilient forests. When a program works, we should extend it. Montana forests must be multi-use. Recreation, conservation, and resource development all have their place and must be part of the conversation, but none of them can exist if our forests are unhealthy or burning down. The continuation of this program will promote the collaboration needed preserve more of our forests for use by the communities around them.”

“In Colorado and across the Rocky Mountain West, we know that protecting our forests and lands benefits our communities,” said Congressman Neguse. “The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program is a successful partnership program that bolsters community-based stewardship, supporting efforts to promote cooperative, science-based wildfire mitigation. I’m incredibly proud to lead my colleagues in the House to champion its reauthorization.”

“The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program has a proven track record of improving forest health and reducing wildfire risk in Montana. Collaborative fuel reduction work completed as part of the Colt Summit Project in Seeley Lake protected homes and infrastructure during the 2023 Colt Fire,” said Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director Amanda Kaster. “Montana DNRC thanks Representative Zinke for his leadership in working to maintain this impactful work that directly helps communities in Montana.”

“Wildfire doesn’t recognize state or county lines, and the Kootenai National Forest in Montana and the Panhandle National Forest in Idaho share the same fire shed, the Kootenai Complex. The 80,000-acre Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative project on the Panhandle National Forest funded under the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program has benefitted our residents here in neighboring Lincoln County, Montana in several ways,” said Jim Hammons, Lincoln County Commissioner. “Treatments under the project have reduced the risk of wildfire crossing into the county from Idaho and has sustained one of the few local mills vital to our timber infrastructure, while providing jobs to our local logging contractors, many that work in Idaho forests. The CFLR program addresses the values that large landscapes have in providing wildlife habitat, timber products and the large-scale wildfire threats that exist in our neck-of-the-woods.”

“I’m grateful to Congressman Zinke for sponsoring this critical legislation,” said Beaverhead County Commissioner, Mike McGinley. “Beaverhead County has already seen a 1,500-acre wildfire this spring, a clear sign that we’ve got to get control of our forest management.”

The legislation is also co-led by Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) and the companion is additionally supported by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Steve Daines (R-MT).

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