Congressman Ryan Zinke (R-MT-01) has partnered with Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) to introduce the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration (CFLR) Program Reauthorization Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing wildfire risk, restoring forest health, and supporting rural economies. The legislation would reauthorize and expand the CFLR Program, originally established in 2009, which has successfully treated and restored over 5.7 million acres of forest nationwide.
Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of acres of forest burn to the ground, destroying landscapes, watersheds, and homes,” said Rep. Zinke. “We can’t prevent every fire, but we can certainly manage our forests to make them healthier and more resilient. The CFLR Program is a proven success story — it brings together public and private partners to achieve real results. When a program works, we should extend it. Healthy forests are essential for conservation, recreation, and resource development. This reauthorization is about protecting those values and the communities that depend on them.”
Zinke emphasized the importance of the program for Montana, where forest health is directly tied to economic opportunity, public safety, and environmental preservation. He stressed that the CFLR model promotes collaborative, science-based solutions and empowers local stakeholders to shape forest restoration efforts.
Support for the bill spans agencies and communities across Montana and the broader western U.S.
Montana DNRC Director Amanda Kaster highlighted the success of CFLR in Seeley Lake, where fuels reduction work under the program helped protect homes and infrastructure during the 2023 Colt Fire. “The CFLR Program has a proven track record of improving forest health and reducing wildfire risk in Montana,” Kaster said. “We thank Representative Zinke for his leadership in maintaining this critical work.”
Lincoln County Commissioner Jim Hammons praised the program’s impact across state lines. “The 80,000-acre Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative funded under CFLR has reduced the risk of wildfire spreading from Idaho into Montana. It’s also sustained local timber jobs and supported vital infrastructure,” he said.
Since its inception, the CFLR Program has served as a national model for how collaborative, locally led forest management can reduce fire risk, enhance wildlife habitat, and sustain rural economies. In addition to treating millions of acres, the program has improved over 1,000 miles of trails and maintained more than 25,000 miles of forest roads, keeping public lands accessible and safe.
By: Montana Newsroom staff
