May 2025 Newsletter

ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

2025 CWSF/WFLC Spring Meeting

Over 60 forestry leaders and partners gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah, from May 13–15 for the 2025 Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) and Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) Spring Meeting.

The meeting featured keynote remarks from USDA leadership, a field tour hosted by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, and discussions focused on policy, partnerships, and shared priorities across the region.

POLICY UPDATE

May 2025 Policy Update

During the Spring Meeting, CWSF/WFLC Director of Policy Neil Simpson shared a policy update with attendees, including updates on budget reconciliation, the fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget outlook, and State Foresters' recent trip to Washington, D.C.

This month’s policy update also highlights a letter from USDA Forest Service Chief Schultz on workforce reshaping and a joint fire memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

COMPETITIVE GRANTS UPDATES

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program

Round 3 closed for applications on March 14, 2025. The verification and review process is currently in progress.

For more information, visit the Forest Service CWDG webpage and the CWSF CWDG webpage.

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Grant Program

The FY 2025 WUI grant application period is closed to applicants. This grant program has been scored, and the recommendation list has been sent to the Washington Office for final approval.

For more information, visit the CWSF WUI webpage.

NEWS & NOTES FROM MEMBERS AND PARTNERS

Job Opportunities

Visit the CWSF job blog for the latest job opportunities from Western state forestry agencies and partners.

If you would like to submit a job posting, please contact Patricia Payne.

Meetings Calendar

See the calendar of meetings and events hosted by CWSF/WFLC and partner organizations.

Western Happenings

For a quick look at recent happenings in the Western region, check out the features below:

STATES/PACIFIC ISLANDS

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USDA FOREST SERVICE

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Northern Research Station: Rooted in Research - Wildfire Safety Research
Rocky Mountain Research Station: Wildfire Risk Science | Technological Advances in Forest Management

If you have a press release or feature you would like to include in an upcoming newsletter, please email Sara Goodwin.

2025 Smokey Bear Awards

The partners behind the wildfire prevention icon Smokey Bear have announced the 2025 Smokey Bear Award recipients. These awards honor individuals, teams, and organizations that provide outstanding service with significant and sustained program impact in the wildfire prevention arena.

The 2025 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at NASF’s Annual Meeting in Waimea, Hawai’i, on September 17, 2025.

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