Stewardship Contracts: BLM and Forest Service Issue Direction on Development, Implementation, and Monitoring

The Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management and the USDA Forest Service are issuing final guidance to their field offices on how to develop, implement, and monitor stewardship contracts and agreements. Stewardship contracting involves caring for the land through broad-based community public and community involvement. Stewardship contracting is intended to achieve key land-management goals that improve, maintain, or restore forest or rangeland health; restore or maintain water quality; improve fish and wildlife habitat; reestablish native plant species and increase their resilience to insect and disease; and reduce hazardous fuels that pose risks to communities and ecosystem values through an open, collaborative process. Stewardship contracting authority includes agreements with nonprofits, best-value contracts, designation by description, end results, and goods for services.

• News Release
  
  
• Guidance Document (502KB PDF)
  Guidance on the preparation, implementation, and tracking of BLM stewardship projects, in accordance with Section 323 of Public Law 108-7, the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003.
  
  
• Instructional Memorandum
  Issuance of Stewardship Contracting Guidance and Identifying Stewardship Contracting Opportunities and Projects.
  
  
• BLM Stewardship Contracting Q's & A's (29KB PDF)
  Questions and answers about Stewardship Contracting as it affects the BLM.
  
  
• BLM Stewardship Contracting Fact Sheet (16KB PDF)
  Fact sheet about Stewardship Contracting as it affects the BLM, including goal, authority, and definitions.
  
  
• Federal Register Notice of January 28, 2004 (50KB PDF)