Spencer Cox & Tom Schultz

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah and the US Forest Service have reached a consent on a new 20-year cooperative agreement, which state leaders believe will better give them a seat at the table in forest management decisions. The deal, which Gov. Spencer Cox and Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz signed on Thursday, expands on an existing partnership tied to wildfire management to include additional forest decisions. The agreement establishes the framework for greater collaboration on decisions tied to outdoor recreation, wildlife management, grazing, timber sales, watersheds or other issues across more than 8 million acres of Forest Service land in Utah. …On top of expanding timber production, which could reduce its reliance on the Canadian lumber that accounts for about 20% of US consumption, Schultz said it should “accelerate” landscape restoration. …Multiple conservation groups weren’t as enthused, arguing that it will cut public oversight and weaken environmental reviews.