To restore beneficial fire effects to fire adapted ecosystems and promote forest health and resilience while meeting multiple restoration objectives in southern california forests

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 5 (Pacific Southwest Region), awarded $1.13 million to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) under the Good Neighbor Authority program (CFDA 10.691) through a Cooperative Agreement effective September 12, 2025, with a completion date of June 30, 2033. This award authorizes CAL Fire to conduct forest and rangeland restoration projects on federal lands in Southern California with the primary objective of restoring beneficial fire effects to fire-adapted ecosystems while promoting forest health and resilience.

Under the Good Neighbor Authority program, CAL Fire will deliver restoration and land management services designed to increase the pace and scale of forest management activities on federal lands. The scope of work aligns with the program's authorized activities, which typically encompass hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed burning, forest health treatments, and ecosystem restoration. The eight-year performance period reflects the collaborative, negotiated nature of Good Neighbor Authority agreements, which are developed through sole-source negotiation between the Forest Service and eligible state entities based on regional forest and watershed health priorities and needs. All work products, project objectives, and associated environmental documentation will be subject to National Environmental Policy Act compliance requirements and Forest Service approval.