Proven Forest Management Act of 2025

Increased Efficiency and Compatibility: The Secretary is directed to coordinate with impacted parties to increase efficiency and maximize the compatibility of management practices across National Forest System land (Section 2(a)).

Ecosystem Benefits: Forest management activities are intended to reduce forest fuels, maintain biological diversity, improve wetland and water quality, and increase resilience to changing water temperature and precipitation (Section 2(b)(1)).

Ground Condition Oversight: The Secretary must establish post-program ground condition criteria and provide monitoring to ensure relevant conditions are attained (Section 2(c)).

Collaborative Management: The bill allows the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified entities for activities like fuel reduction, erosion control, and reforestation (Section 2(e)).

Cost Exceptions for Ecosystem Benefits: The requirement to attain multiple ecosystem benefits may not apply if the Secretary determines the associated costs are excessive (Section 2(b)(2)).

Reduced Environmental Review: Forest management activities for reducing forest fuels that do not exceed 10,000 acres (including up to 3,000 acres of mechanical thinning) are categorically excluded from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Section 2(d)(1)).