Washington, D.C., August 19, 2026 – The U.S. Forest Service today announced a new shared stewardship agreement with Thunder Basin Grazing Association, the first of its kind specific to grasslands. This agreement establishes a 20-year collaborative framework to strengthen rangeland stewardship, ecosystem health, and sustainable working landscapes across the Thunder Basin National Grassland in northeast Wyoming.
The Thunder Basin National Grassland is one of the nation's most significant mixed‑grass prairie ecosystems, supporting livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and multiple-use objectives. This agreement formalizes the commitment to this partnership.
"The Forest Service and the association have worked together for decades through coordinated management of grazing permits and rangeland resources," said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. "Through this agreement, we will identify priority areas to improve forage and soil health, expand wildlife friendly infrastructure, and work together on targeted grazing and vegetation management that strengthens the resilience of this landscape."
The agreement establishes a collaborative framework through which the Forest Service and the Thunder Basin Grazing Association will jointly identify priority areas for restoration, conservation, and treatment using shared data, monitoring, and local expertise. Together, the parties will support sustainable working landscapes by strengthening ecological resilience, and coordinating vegetation management through targeted grazing, mechanical treatments, and practices that reduce hazardous fuels.
"The Thunder Basin Grazing Association shares the stewardship goals that Chief Schultz has emphasized and is proud to join in this 20-year Shared Stewardship Agreement. Since the Association's formation in 1937, we have worked alongside the Forest Service and other partners to advance sustainable land management that supports healthy rangelands, thriving wildlife habitat, and resilient local communities," said Tom Reed, President of the Thunder Basin Grazing Association. "These longstanding partnerships are essential to the people and industries that depend on the Thunder Basin landscape, including ranching, oil and gas, coal, recreation, and outdoor enthusiasts. The Forest Service is a key partner in our regional collaborative efforts with organizations such as the Thunder Basin Grasslands Prairie Ecosystem Association, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Wyoming Game and Fish, and many others. The Thunder Basin Grazing Association looks forward to building on this legacy and continuing our collaborative stewardship of the Thunder Basin for many decades to come."
Like state-level Shared Stewardship Agreements, this agreement demonstrates how shared stewardship can be applied directly with a partner organization representing grazing permittees on a specific National Forest System landscape.
About the Forest Service: The Forest Service has brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation for more than 100 years. Grounded in world-class science and technology—and rooted in communities—the Forest Service connects people to nature and recreation opportunities. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, supports the nation's forest industry and energy needs, and operates the largest and most respected wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. By providing assistance to state and private landowners and working with Tribes and other partners, the Forest Service also helps steward an additional 900 million forested acres within the U.S.
