CWSF Welcomes Communications Intern

The Council of Western State Foresters (CWSF) is excited to announce Olivia Oliver as the new Communications Intern for Summer 2026.

Olivia is a junior at the University of Oregon, majoring in Public Relations and minoring in Environmental Studies and Science Communication. This internship is made possible with support from the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) Foundation.

National Forest Foundation 2026 Matching Awards Program Grant Opportunity

The National Forest Foundation's Matching Awards Program (MAP) is now accepting applications for the 2026 application cycle.

MAP funds projects that inspire participants to be personally involved in caring for their public lands. Projects must take place on U.S. National Forests or Grasslands, or on adjacent public lands, and demonstrate a benefit to National Forest System lands. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments and organizations, and universities.

Learn more and apply by July 9.

NEWS & NOTES FROM MEMBERS & PARTNERS

Important upcoming CWSF/WFLC dates include: 



• CWSF GNA Committee Annual Meeting | August 4-6, 2026 | Dillon, CO
• CWSF Forest Stewardship/Landowner Assistance Committee Annual Meeting | September 29-October 1, 2026 | Anchorage, AK
• CWSF Forest Health Committee Annual Meeting | September 29-October 1, 2026 | Anchorage, AK
• CWSF Forest Products Committee Annual Meeting | October 14-15, 2026 | Virtual
• CWSF/WFLC Fall Meeting | December 2-4, 2026 | Washington, D.C.

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

STATES/PACIFIC ISLANDS

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• American Samoa: Containing and Eradicating Little Fire Ants
• Arizona: Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management Earmarks More Than $1 Million to Gila County for Flood Mitigation Support
• California: Task Force Releases Draft Five-Year Wildfire and Landscape Resilience Action Plan
• Guam: GFD Gets New Fire Engine from Agriculture, Federal Program
• Hawai’i: New Tool to Prevent the Spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death
• Idaho: Gov. Little: Idaho Prepared for Potentially Challenging Fire Season
• Montana: Governor Gianforte, Forest Service, DNRC Announce Nearly One Million Acres Placed Under Shared Stewardship Agreement
• Nevada: Shared Stewardship Partnership Releases 2025 Accomplishments Report
• New Mexico: Tree Deaths Tripled Across New Mexico in 2025 Amid Drought, Heat | Forestry Division Monthly Newsletter | Forestry Division Seedling Program to Focus on Fire-Damaged Areas
• Oregon: Governor Kotek Declares State of Emergency Due to Imminent Threat of Wildfire | ODF, Ochoco National Forest Complete First-of-its-Kind Reforestation Project Through Good Neighbor Authority | Oregon Department of Forestry Trains, Deploys Adults in Custody Firefighting Crews for Quick Wildfire Response
• Utah: Forest Legacy Funding Secures Permanent Protection for Private Forestland in Historic Nine Mile Canyon | State of Utah and Federal Wildland Firefighters Raise Awareness Amid Elevated Seasonal Fire Risk 
• Washington: Commissioner Upthegrove: We All Play a Critical Role in Wildfire Prevention
• Wyoming: Local, State, and Federal Partners Prepare for a Severe Fire Season

USDA FOREST SERVICE

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• U.S. Forest Service Adds Long-Sought Protections to Limit Health Risks for Wildland Firefighters
• USDA Puts Montana Forests Back to Work, Supporting Jobs and Rural Communities
• Shared Stewardship Advances Across Western Montana
• Forest Service Debuts New Recreation Mobile App
• U.S. Forest Service, South Dakota Sign 5-Year Stewardship Agreement to Strengthen Forest and Grassland Resilience
• Research and Development: Step by Step: Forests of the Future | Restore Ponderosa Forests - and Reduce Fire Risk? Study Shows the Path Forward

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

2026 NASF Awards: Call for Nominations

NASF is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Awards. These awards recognize significant achievement in State, Private, and Tribal Forestry in the following categories: Forest Public Policy; Fire Protection; Forest Resource Management; Urban and Community Forestry; Communications; Leadership; Partnerships; and Lifetime Achievement.

Nominations must be submitted on or before Friday, August 7. Descriptions of the awards, guidelines for selection, and a sample nomination are included on the first page of the online form.

Questions, comments, feedback? Please contact us!