Gordon signs executive order to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk in Wyoming
CHEYENNE — Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order Friday that aims to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk in Wyoming.
The EO also calls for many partnerships between forest health organizations, such as having the Wyoming State Forestry Division cooperate with federal agencies to manage forest resources in Wyoming and collaborate with local partners to enhance fuel mitigation efforts.
Good Neighbor Authority — a program that allows the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management to partner with states, counties and tribes to increase the pace and scale of forest, rangeland and watershed restoration on federal lands — would be expanded to address cross-border wildfire threats and expedite forest management and preparedness.
“With this renewed focus, our aim is to reduce the risk of wildfires, update our agreements to increase management and fuel mitigation projects — even coordination and cooperative management have healthy and productive learning for us — and also make sure those jobs that are so essential to Wyoming’s way of life can continue to be there,” Gordon said. “I frankly would love to see more people in the woods. … It’s just always been an important part of our economy.”
Kelly Norris, Wyoming state forester, said this new EO is a critical step in accelerating meaningful work across all land ownerships.
Norris said Wyoming State Forestry has working relationships with both the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management offices across Wyoming. The various organizations are constantly coordinating and planning at regional and local levels.
“We will work with our local fire coordinators and federal agencies to really focus on that pre-season coordination, our training and our research availability,” Norris said, “because at the end of the day, we know that mitigation is the most cost effective way to proactively manage welfare. … This really just gives us clear direction and support to expand our work.”
Chris Campbell, deputy regional forester for the intermountain region, also said the EO will help foster the various partnerships between forestry and land management organizations across the state.
Having worked with Wyoming State Forestry for many years now, he said, he has had the time to help form these partnerships and work to take them to the next level.
“I really appreciate our partnership that we have here — one that’s based on shared values, shared goals, focused on sustainable use of our National Forest, doing what we can to keep our forests healthy and keeping our community safe.”
The executive order went into effect immediately upon signing.
This story was published on August 2, 2025.