$65 million allocated to restore national forests in North Carolina

5 hours ago

2 min read

Source: NCDACS

ASHEVILLE - Western North Carolina will see a major boost in long-term wildfire recovery and forest restoration under a new $65 million, 10‑year Good Neighbor Agreement recently signed by the U.S. Forest Service and the North Carolina Forest Service. The partnership directs state crews to reduce hazardous fuels across storm‑damaged wildland‑urban interface areas and tackle invasive species that often surge after large‑scale disturbances. It also aims to speed up forest restoration and create new jobs in communities still struggling after Hurricane Helene.

Sunlit autumn forested mountains under dramatic cloudy sky, with rolling ridges and a calm, scenic wilderness view. — *NCFS estimates that Helene impacted more than 800,000 acres of forestland in Western North Carolina, including tens of thousands of downed timber across the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests.* ***Image credit - Mark Stebnicki***

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler called the investment “significant,” noting that downed trees and debris left on both public and private lands have sharply increased wildfire risk. The agreement allows fuel‑reduction work on private lands in disaster‑impacted counties when management goals align—an approach Troxler said will be “especially beneficial.”

NCFS estimates Helene damaged more than 800,000 acres of forestland in Western North Carolina, including massive blowdowns across the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests. The debris has created dangerous fuel loads and access challenges for firefighters as the region heads into what could be an active fall fire season.

Forest Supervisor James Melonas said recent fires in heavily damaged areas were contained only because of close federal‑state cooperation. “Despite the work already completed, an unacceptable level of risk remains for families living in vulnerable communities,” he said. “This agreement is a major step forward.”

The Good Neighbor Authority, first approved in 2001 and expanded in the 2018 Farm Bill, allows the Forest Service to partner with states, counties, and tribes on cross‑jurisdictional projects such as fuel reduction, watershed work, and invasive‑species mitigation.