The Montana Forest Collaboration Network (MFCN) is primarily a volunteer consensus-based collaborative group, formed in August 2016 to assist collaborative groups across Montana in forest and grassland restoration, conservation, and resource utilization for the benefit of all.
MFCN is seeking nominations for their 2026 Forest Collaboration Awards.
The awards honor groups and partners working creatively and impactfully on forest and grassland stewardship. Awards will be presented at the annual MFCN Workshop November 5-6. Eligible nominees include individuals, groups, and organizations involved in collaborative, community-based, forest or grassland stewardship activities.
Group of the Year Award. Recognizes a collaborative group or effort which has produced measurable results such as improving forest or grassland health, reducing wildfire risk, restoring habitat, increasing stewardship treatments, improving sustainable recreation, or other impactful results through collaboration.
Partner of the Year Award. Recognizes a landowner, agency, tribe, group, business, or other organization that has demonstrated an outstanding ability to collaborate to restore or improve forest and grassland conditions.
Education and Outreach Award. Recognizes an individual or group that has demonstrated an outstanding ability to increase public awareness, support, and engagement through collaborative education and outreach activities.
The nomination form is available at the link below. They will be accepted until September 30, 2026.
“Collaboratives are the institutional memory of place, and collaborative processes are the future or our nation’s public land. Membership and participation in MFCN clearly reflects the increased open and honest dialogue between natural resource professionals and various public interests through collaboration and collaborative processes.”
-Gordy Sanders, MFCN Chair
“Collaborative groups need to understand the changes facing their agency partners and creatively adjust their operations to respond to those changes.”
-Steve Daniels, collaboration expert at 2024 MFCN Annual Workshop
“We really believe that it’s important for citizens, who are the people that we serve, to be a part of how we take care of these lands.”
-Leslie Weldon, Former Deputy Chief, National Forest System
“Collaboration provides an opportunity to understand differing interests and constraints while developing recommendations informed by multiple perspectives.”
-Vaia Errett, Co-chair of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Working Group
