Following the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act in 2004, the Forest Service found only 18 percent of their Wilderness Areas managed to a minimum stewardship level.

At the recommendation of Forest Service Chief’s Wilderness Advisory Group, the agency created the 10-Year Wilderness Stewardship Challenge (10YWSC) to help bring those special places up to an acceptable baseline management level by the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act in 2014.

The NFF launched its Wilderness Stewardship Challenge grant program for nonprofit partners to complement 10YWSC. The funding program provided grants to improve the stewardship of National Forest Wilderness Areas and enhance the capacity of partner groups that work with the Forest Service to help care for them.

Below are some of the accomplishments through all NFF Wilderness-specific programs. To read the full report, click here.