PHOTOS: Utah forestry officials and rural leaders can expect greater influence over critical decisions involving the management of the state’s 8 million acres of national forest, thanks to an agreement Gov. Gary Herbert and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed Wednesday.
The deal obligates the U.S. Forest Service to rely on the state’s guidance for designing, implementing, and prioritizing projects geared toward reducing the risks of damaging wildfires and promoting forest health.
“What we’re talking about with shared stewardship is one plus one equals more than two working together,” Perdue said before the signing, attended by top Forest Service officials and Utah lawmakers, county commissioners and agency heads.