Montana met its forest management goals for the third consecutive year. State officials say they increased the amount of thinning, timber harvests, prescribed burns and restoration projects on forests by 16% over 2022 levels. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation last year placed over 36,000 acres under active forest management. Gov. Greg Gianforte celebrated the work Tuesday in a tree nursery at DNRC regional headquarters in Missoula. “This accomplishment would not have been possible without our strong partnerships with local communities, federal agencies and tribal nations,” Gianforte says. Gianforte says that work reduces wildfire risk, improves forest health and is good for business.