USDA Forest Service Stewardship Contracting Pilot Projects

How can agencies and communities assess whether stewardship contracting is meeting forest management goals and local needs? This report documents the initial development of a monitoring and evaluation process for the Forest Service’s stewardship contracting pilot program. Drawing on project surveys, it examines contracting approaches, community participation, funding, and technical assistance needs. The findings establish a baseline for tracking progress and identify early implementation challenges, offering a historical perspective on efforts to combine forest restoration, community benefits, and public accountability through collaborative monitoring.