The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission have entered into a $290 million Good Neighbor Agreement to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in Western North Carolina. The agreement — the largest of its kind for the Forest Service — will speed up recovery efforts, create new jobs, reduce overall costs and strengthen communities impacted by the hurricane.
This agreement empowers the commission to perform comprehensive recovery efforts across the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests during the next 10 years. The commission will remove storm debris, repair roads and recreation areas, manage invasive species, restore damaged watersheds and improve wildlife habitat.
“Helping communities recover from Helene has been a top priority for the Forest Service since the storm tore through the Southeast more than a year ago,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “North Carolina’s national forests are an economic powerhouse, bringing billions of dollars into local communities through world class outdoor recreation. Restoring access means restoring both livelihoods and the family moments that make these forests so meaningful.”
Hurricane Helene had a tremendous impact on the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests, including tens of thousands of acres of blown-down timber, widespread damage to roads and infrastructure and wildlife habitat destruction, as well as leaving an unprecedented level of fuel for wildfires in the form of the downed trees and devastated vegetation.
“The impacts from Helene were sudden and created immense devastation across Western North Carolina, including severe impacts to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and their habitats,” said Wildlife Resources Commission Executive Director Kyle Briggs. “Restoring these species and habitats is essential to maintaining a functional ecosystem, reducing wildfire risks and providing quality recreational opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts that Western North Carolina is known for attracting. No single organization or group can address all this alone. We are so grateful to the administration and the leadership of the Forest Service for their partnership and the funding they are providing to help us meet the challenges of restoring the forests and its wildlife.”
What is Good Neighbor Authority?
The Good Neighbor Authority is a tool that makes it easier for the Forest Service to team up with non-federal partners to care for forests. Congress first approved the authority in 2001 and expanded it in the 2018 Farm Bill, setting the stage for more growth in cooperative forest management.
“From improving access for hunters and anglers to addressing critical restoration needs, this new agreement is a practical approach to using state-based expertise to address Helene recovery needs while bringing a significant investment to North Carolina,” said Schultz.
Recovering together
With four national forests across North Carolina, the Forest Service and the Commission have worked closely together through the two agencies’ decades-long partnership.
After Hurricane Helene struck, commission leadership quickly reached out to the National Forests in North Carolina, which are based in Asheville, to offer a hand to assist in the response.
“I remember my first conversation with Kyle (Briggs) just days after the storm,” said James Melonas, forest supervisor for the National Forests in North Carolina. “While my team in the greater Asheville area and I were still in shock from what just happened, he let me know that his team was standing by to help however possible. This unprompted offer of assistance during one of our most difficult moments highlights the success of the partnership we have with the commission.”
While the majority of both the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests have reopened following Hurricane Helene, a significant amount of work remains to repair damage to roads, recreation areas, trails and watersheds.
Visit the National Forests in North Carolina’s website and follow @NFSNC on Facebook for the latest information on Helene recovery.
Visit the national website for more information on Good Neighbor Authority.