Land Managers and Industry Collaborating for Real-World Solutions
Land Managers and Industry Collaborating for Real-World Solutions
The Southwest Idaho All-Lands Partnership, in coordination with Idaho Department of Lands, the University of Idaho, and Boise and Payette National Forests, have launched a newan enhanced approach to informing and engaging land managers and the timber industry across the region.
Partners expanded engagement beyond individual National Forests to include the broader market area that supplies industry—spanning portions of central Idaho and eastern Oregon. A review of past engagement efforts, including a 2025 survey among partners, helped identify common challenges and practical solutions.
Early engagement included a focus on long-term timber supply strategies and technology integration. These sessions featured local experts and facilitated discussion on solutions tailored to Southwest Idaho.
Field trips in 2026 will explore site-specific challenges to the USDA Forest Service National Active Forest Management Strategy. Phase projects which will then lead to sessions that will explore biomass utilization, transportation networks, and community sort yards. Participation has exceeded expectations, generating shared ownership in implementing solutions that strengthen the timber industry and improve forest resilience.
If you are a land manager or work in the timber industry and are interested in engaging in future sessions, please reach out to Lance Davisson with the All-Lands Partnership at [email protected].
Brown Bag Sessions
1. Targeted Roundtable Kickoff
Held February 23, 2026, this targeted engagement session convened Southwest Idaho land managers and timber industry leaders to outline a new way to engage and collaborate in southwest Idaho. The session targeted practical barriers and actions that strengthen forest management and industry viability. Discussions surfaced priorities from the Forest Service and IDL; key challenges—NEPA delays, hauling limits, low‑value/biomass markets, species constraints, and workforce shortages—and solutions including delivered log sales, flexible operating windows and longer‑term contracts (e.g., G‑to‑Z), technology adoption (tethered/mechanized systems), and University of Idaho‑aligned workforce training. Next steps outlined spring webinars on long‑term contracting (April) and technology integration (May), plus follow‑ups on NEPA streamlining, biomass utilization, and Boise NF field‑focused engagement.
2. Long-Term Timber Supply Strategies
Held April 20, 2026, this cross‑sector session examined long‑term timber supply strategies for southwest Idaho, emphasizing predictable volume, diversified contracting tools (timber sales, stewardship, Good Neighbor Authority, A‑to‑Z/G‑to‑Z, and potential 20‑year authorities), and collaborative ideas like a cooperative sort yard to improve utilization and reduce waste. Discussion addressed market and transportation challenges, contract design, and workforce/capacity needs, with next steps focused on technology integration and ongoing agency–industry coordination.
3. Technology Integration
Held May 11, 2026, the Technology Integration session brought land managers, timber operators, and tech innovators together to showcase practical tools that enhance inventory, planning, harvesting, and reporting for active forest management in southwest Idaho. Highlights included high‑density LiDAR with ArcGIS‑based forest information systems for tree‑level inventories, in‑cab machine guidance with real‑time LiDAR for DxP, tablet marking and automated reporting, and tethered cut‑to‑length steep‑slope systems with AI‑driven bucking to boost safety, efficiency, and value recovery. Participants emphasized transparent dashboards, field tours, and collaboration, with next steps exploring how to locally deploy these technologies, as well as a log sort yard study and a future biomass‑focused session.
Planned 2026 Field Trips
Yogi – McCall Ranger District, Payette NF, June 2026
Located outside of McCall, Idaho, commercial vegetation treatments provide opportunities for improvements to both vegetation and recreation resources. To accomplish project objectives, this field trip fosters critical coordination between land managers, loggers and recreation interest groups.2
Grouse House – Mountain Home Ranger District (Boise NF) & Fairfield Ranger District (Sawtooth NF), July 2026
Hosted with the Idaho Department of Lands’ Good Neighbor Authority Bureau.Located in the southeastern portion of the timber basket, serving markets primarily for Woodgrain and Boise Cascade. Treatments focus on restoring dry‑site ponderosa pine and reducing wildfire risk to Pine and Featherville.
Wet Foot – Emmett Ranger District, Boise NF, September 2026
Hosted with the Idaho Department of Lands’ Good Neighbor Authority Bureau. A ~30,000‑acre project north of Garden Valley within southwest Idaho’s “three mill zone” (Woodgrain, Evergreen Forest Products, Idaho Forest Group). Treatments aim to improve forest and watershed resilience in moist grand fir systems. Shorter haul distances and higher‑productivity create opportunities for long‑term timber supply strategies, advanced technologies, steep‑slope harvest systems, and diverse merchandising.
Upcoming Actions and Discussion
RFQ: Southern Idaho Wood Products Sort Yard & Transportation Study – A draft RFQ is prepared to assess feasibility, optimal siting, and transportation needs for sort/reload yards across Southern Idaho (covering both the SW and SE timber baskets). The scope includes wood‑supply and market assessments, routing/cost modeling, identification of 2–5 candidate yard sites per region, economic feasibility, and stakeholder interviews.
Technology pilot grant – An application has been submitted to the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities to pilot several technology solutions presented during the sessions. If successful, specifics will be discussed at the next session.
Next up: Planning is underway for a fall brown‑bag lunch session. Please share dates and topics through this survey; additional details will be posted this summer.
