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Wildfire Crisis Strategy meeting leaders
Conservation

Advancing Wildfire Mitigation Across the Nation

The escalating wildfire crisis in the United States transcends individual states, forests or regions, posing a nationwide threat that demands unified action. This urgency was underscored at the 2025 NWTF Convention, where leaders from across the country convened to address wildfire management challenges, celebrate collaborative achievements and strategize future conservation efforts.

February 14, 20251 min read

Brian Ferebee, the USDA Forest Service's chief executive for intergovernmental relations, emphasized the gravity of the situation, starting off the conversation stating, "The greatest threat to all of the resources we care about is wildfire."  

This sentiment set the tone as participants delved into pressing issues, notably the management of hazardous fuels. 

A critical aspect of wildfire prevention involves the reduction of hazardous fuels — combustible materials that exacerbate fire spread. However, transporting these materials from remote national forests to processing facilities presents significant logistical and financial challenges.  

To address this, the Forest Service highlighted the progress made through the Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, which fosters innovative solutions to mitigate these logistical and financial hurdles. A standout initiative in 2024 was the Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Program, a joint effort by NWTF and the Forest Service. This program provides financial incentives to offset transportation costs, effectively removing a key obstacle to hazardous fuel reduction and improving wildfire resilience. 

Molly Pitts, NWTF Wildfire Crisis Strategy manager, also shared the accomplishments of the Wildfire Crisis Strategy for 2024. Since the landmark 20-year national master stewardship agreement between the NWTF and the Forest Service in 2022, over 11,000 acres have been treated across 12 projects under regional Supplemental Project Agreements (SPAs). This work exemplifies the collaborative commitment to accelerating wildfire mitigation and promoting forest health nationwide. 

As 2025 unfolds, the NWTF and the Forest Service are poised to expand their impact through additional SPAs, reinforcing the importance of cross-boundary collaboration. Wildfires and forests do not adhere to man-made boundaries, and by breaking down barriers between agencies, nongovernmental agencies, communities and more, we ensure that our forests are more resilient for generations to come.