November 2025 Newsletter

ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

2025 CWSF/WFLC Fall Meeting - Registration Reminder

Registration is open for the 2025 Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF)/Western Forestry Leadership Coalition (WFLC) Fall Meeting, December 10-12, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Visit the CWSF and WFLC webpages for meeting details and the draft agenda.

Attendance is limited to Western State and Pacific Island Foresters and senior staff, USDA Forest Service WFLC members and Washington Office leaders, and invited partners.

Please contact Patricia Payne with questions about the Fall Meeting or registration.

See You at the Ponderosa Pine Utilization Summit!

In-person registration has closed for the Ponderosa Pine Utilization Summit. We look forward to welcoming approximately 100 attendees to Flagstaff, AZ, November 18–20, 2025, for strategic discussions and working sessions to examine and advance the state of ponderosa pine forests and industry across the West.

Highlights from the Summit will be featured in our December newsletter.

POLICY UPDATE

November 2025 Policy Update

Read the latest policy update from Neil Simpson, CWSF/WFLC Director of Policy. This month’s policy update covers:

Click the links above to jump to each individual topic or download a PDF on our website.

COMMITTEE UPDATES

WSFM Health and Wellness Opportunity

Join the State of Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection Health and Wellness Program for an advanced training opportunity, Breaking the Silence: Practical Skills for Suicide Risk Awareness and Intervention. Learn more about the training and register to attend virtually or in-person.

Visit the Western State Fire Managers Health and Wellness Subcommittee webpage to view the training calendar and explore additional resources. If you have a training you'd like featured, email wsfm@westernforesters.org.

Committee Highlights and Accomplishments Reports

CWSF and WFLC committees, working with CWSF/WFLC staff, have developed a series of Highlights and Accomplishments Reports to showcase the impact of forestry funding on state and private lands.

These reports highlight program achievements and demonstrate how investments are advancing shared forestry priorities across the West.

The first two reports, highlighting Forest Health and Forest Stewardship, are now complete, with additional reports forthcoming.

Good Neighbor Authority (GNA) Spotlight - Nevada

The Nevada Division of Forestry, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service under the Nevada Shared Stewardship GNA Agreement, is undertaking treatments to reduce fuels, increase forest health, and enhance riparian functionality across 150 acres in a popular recreation site.

Photo: Tony Parenti

COMPETITIVE GRANTS UPDATES

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program

Round 3 awards have been announced. On September 23, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the funding of 58 applications for $200 million. The list of funded projects can be found on the Forest Service CWDG webpage.

View a press release from the National Association of State Foresters.

Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) Competitive Grant Program

The fiscal year (FY) 2025 LSR grant application period is closed to applicants. This grant program has been scored, and the advisory recommendation list has been submitted and reviewed. The approved recommendation list outlining FY 2025 western-funded projects can be viewed on the WFLC LSR webpage, and information on projects funded across the country can be found here.

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 advisory recommendation list has been approved. The FY 2025 western-funded project list can be viewed on the CWSF WUI webpage.

NEWS & NOTES FROM MEMBERS & 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

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

Important upcoming CWSF/WFLC dates include:

Ponderosa Pine Utilization Summit | November 18-20, 2025 | Flagstaff, AZ
CWSF Forest Products Committee Meeting | November 21, 2025 | Flagstaff, AZ
CWSF/WFLC Fall Meeting | December 10-12, 2025 | Washington, D.C.
CWSF/WFLC Spring Meeting | May 12-14, 2026 | Nebraska City, NE

Western Happenings

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

STATES/PACIFIC ISLANDS

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

2026 Wildfire Mitigation Awards

The Wildfire Mitigation Awards Committee is pleased to invite nominations for the 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Awards. Established in 2014, this national award program recognizes outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation.

All nominations for the 2026 Wildfire Mitigation Awards must be submitted by Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Learn more.

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Questions, comments, feedback? Please contact us!

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