Local Partnerships & Conservation: How Black Hills National Forest Stays Wild

The Collaborative Forest

When visitors marvel at the towering pines, crystal-clear streams, and abundant wildlife of Black Hills National Forest, they’re witnessing not just nature’s handiwork, but the results of over a century of dedicated conservation efforts. Unlike truly pristine wilderness areas, the Black Hills have been actively managed since their designation as a forest reserve in 1897, creating a landscape that balances natural processes with human needs and influences.

What makes this management approach remarkable is its collaborative nature. While the U.S. Forest Service holds primary responsibility for the forest’s 1.2 million acres, the agency doesn’t work alone. A diverse network of partners—from nonprofit organizations and volunteer groups to state agencies, tribal nations, and private landowners—contributes expertise, resources, and passion to keeping the Black Hills healthy and accessible.

This collaborative approach has become increasingly important as the forest faces modern challenges like climate change, invasive species, increased recreational pressure, and evolving public expectations. By bringing together diverse perspectives and resources, these partnerships create more resilient solutions than any single entity could achieve alone.

Understanding how these partnerships work not only deepens appreciation for the forest you see today but also reveals opportunities for visitors to contribute to conservation efforts during their stay. Whether you’re planning a brief visit or a lengthy exploration of the Black Hills, knowing the story behind the scenery enriches the experience and invites participation in preserving this remarkable landscape.

Forest Service Management

At the core of Black Hills National Forest conservation is the U.S. Forest Service, the federal agency that has managed these lands since 1905. Operating under the Department of Agriculture, the Forest Service approaches its mission with a philosophy quite different from national parks or wilderness areas—one that balances conservation with carefully managed resource use.

Multiple-Use Mandate

Unlike the preservation focus of national parks, national forests operate under a “multiple-use” mandate, seeking to manage lands for a variety of purposes including recreation, timber, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and grazing. This approach, formalized in the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960, requires forest managers to balance sometimes competing interests while ensuring resources remain available for future generations.

In Black Hills National Forest, this mandate translates to a landscape where recreational trails might wind through areas of active timber management, where grazing allotments coexist with wildlife habitat improvement projects, and where watershed protection influences decisions about road placement and maintenance. This balancing act requires careful planning, scientific research, and extensive public involvement.

The Forest Service’s Black Hills National Forest staff includes specialists in forestry, wildlife biology, hydrology, archaeology, recreation management, and other disciplines. These professionals work from offices in Custer, Rapid City, and Spearfish, South Dakota, as well as in Newcastle, Wyoming, collaborating across disciplines to implement the forest’s management plan.

Sustainable Forestry Practices

Timber management has been central to Black Hills National Forest since its earliest days. The forest’s first timber sale in 1899, known as “Case No. 1,” marked a historic milestone as the first federally managed timber harvest in the nation. This sale established principles of sustainable forestry that continue to guide management today.

Modern timber management in the Black Hills focuses on creating resilient forest conditions through techniques like:

• Thinning operations that reduce tree density to historical levels, decreasing competition for water and nutrients while creating conditions less favorable to catastrophic wildfire and mountain pine beetle outbreaks.
• Selective harvesting that maintains diverse age classes of trees across the landscape, creating habitat variety that supports different wildlife species.
• Prescribed burns that mimic natural fire processes, reducing fuel loads and stimulating regeneration of fire-adapted species.
• Reforestation efforts that ensure harvested areas return to forest cover, often using locally sourced seedlings grown specifically for Black Hills conditions.

These practices are guided by the forest’s Land and Resource Management Plan, which undergoes regular revision with extensive public input. The current plan emphasizes ecosystem health, sustainable timber production, recreation access, and habitat conservation.

Fire Management

Fire management represents one of the Forest Service’s most visible and critical responsibilities in the Black Hills. The agency’s approach has evolved significantly over the decades, moving from a strict fire suppression policy to a more nuanced strategy that recognizes fire’s ecological role while protecting communities and resources.

Today’s fire management includes:

• Fuels reduction projects that thin forest stands near communities, creating defensible space and reducing the intensity of potential wildfires.
• Prescribed burns conducted under carefully controlled conditions to reduce accumulated fuels and improve forest health.
• Rapid initial attack on wildfires that threaten communities or valuable resources.
• Managed fire approaches that allow some naturally ignited fires to burn in remote areas when conditions permit, fulfilling their ecological role.

The devastating Jasper Fire in 2000, which burned approximately 83,000 acres of the forest, reinforced the importance of proactive fire management. Subsequent restoration efforts have included reforestation, erosion control, and monitoring of natural recovery processes, providing valuable lessons that inform current management strategies.

Resource Protection

Beyond timber and fire management, the Forest Service oversees protection of numerous other resources within Black Hills National Forest:

• Water resources receive special attention, with management practices designed to maintain water quality in the forest’s streams, lakes, and groundwater. This includes careful design of road drainage systems, protection of riparian areas, and restoration of damaged watersheds.
• Wildlife habitat management includes creating and maintaining diverse forest structures, protecting sensitive areas during breeding seasons, and collaborating with state wildlife agencies on species monitoring and management.
• Cultural resources such as historic mining sites, Native American cultural areas, and early Forest Service administrative buildings are inventoried, protected, and in some cases interpreted for public education.
• Recreation resources require ongoing maintenance and management to provide quality experiences while preventing environmental damage. This includes trail maintenance, campground operations, and managing visitor impacts in popular areas.

The Forest Service’s work extends beyond the boundaries of the national forest through programs like the Forest Stewardship Program, which provides technical assistance to private forest landowners, and through participation in landscape-scale planning efforts that consider the entire Black Hills ecosystem regardless of ownership boundaries.

Black Hills Parks & Forests Association

Among the Forest Service’s most important partners is the Black Hills Parks & Forests Association (BHPFA), a nonprofit organization that has supported conservation and education in the region for nearly 80 years. This official nonprofit partner operates under a formal agreement with the Forest Service and several National Park Service units in the Black Hills.

Mission and Programs

The BHPFA’s mission centers on enhancing public understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of the Black Hills region’s natural and cultural resources. The organization accomplishes this through several key programs:

• Educational publishing, producing books, field guides, and interpretive materials focused on Black Hills natural and cultural history. These range from children’s activity books to detailed field guides for identifying local plants, animals, and geological features.
• Interpretive support, funding seasonal interpreters, educational displays, and special programs that help visitors connect with the forest’s stories and significance.
• Research grants supporting scientific studies that inform forest management and expand understanding of Black Hills ecosystems.
• Youth education initiatives including field trip support, classroom materials, and programs like Junior Forest Ranger activities that engage young people with nature.

These programs reflect the BHPFA’s belief that education leads to appreciation, which in turn fosters stewardship—a philosophy that has guided the organization since its founding.

Visitor Center Operations

Most visitors encounter the BHPFA through its bookstores located in visitor centers throughout the Black Hills, including those at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Jewel Cave National Monument, Wind Cave National Park, and Black Hills National Forest visitor centers.

These bookstores offer much more than souvenirs. They serve as curated collections of educational materials selected to deepen visitors’ understanding of the area they’re exploring. Products range from detailed topographic maps and trail guides to children’s nature books, field identification guides, and works on local history and culture.

BHPFA staff and volunteers at these locations provide valuable information services, complementing the work of agency personnel and often filling gaps when federal staffing is limited. Their knowledge of local conditions, trails, and attractions helps visitors make the most of their time in the forest.

Educational Materials

The educational materials produced and distributed by BHPFA play a crucial role in forest conservation by building public understanding and appreciation. Notable examples include:

• The “Black Hills Explorer” series of field guides covering topics like wildflowers, birds, and geology in accessible formats for general audiences.
• Trail guides with detailed maps, difficulty ratings, and interpretive information about natural and cultural features along routes.
• Children’s activity books that engage young visitors with the forest through games, puzzles, and age-appropriate information.
• Historical works documenting the human story of the Black Hills, from indigenous connections to mining history to early conservation efforts.

These materials extend the educational impact of a forest visit long after visitors return home, creating lasting connections and deeper understanding of forest ecosystems and management.

Funding Conservation Projects

Perhaps most importantly, the BHPFA functions as a funding mechanism for conservation and education projects that might otherwise go unsupported. Proceeds from bookstore sales, memberships, and donations are channeled back into the forest and parks through project grants.

Recent BHPFA-funded projects in Black Hills National Forest have included:

• Development of interpretive signs explaining forest management practices and ecosystem processes at popular recreation sites.
• Support for the “Songbird of the Black Hills” campground program, bringing natural history education to visitors through music and storytelling.
• Funding for wildlife monitoring projects tracking species of conservation concern.
• Production of educational materials about fire ecology and forest health for distribution at visitor centers.
• Internship programs providing hands-on experience for students pursuing careers in natural resource management.

By supporting the BHPFA through purchases at their bookstores or direct donations, forest visitors directly contribute to these conservation and education efforts. The association represents one of the most accessible ways for visitors to give back to the places they enjoy.

Volunteer Programs

The spirit of stewardship comes alive through the many volunteers who contribute their time and energy to Black Hills National Forest. These dedicated individuals and groups provide thousands of hours of service annually, extending the forest’s capacity for maintenance, visitor services, and special projects.

Trail Maintenance Opportunities

With over 450 miles of trails to maintain, volunteer trail crews play an essential role in keeping the forest accessible to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. Several organizations coordinate regular trail maintenance activities:

• The Black Hills Trails Volunteers organize regular workdays throughout the hiking season, clearing fallen trees, repairing erosion damage, and improving trail markers. This grassroots group welcomes volunteers of all experience levels, providing tools and guidance for newcomers.
• The Black Hills Mountain Bike Association focuses on maintaining and improving trails popular with cyclists, including portions of the Centennial Trail and the trails around Rapid City.
• Local chapters of the Back Country Horsemen specialize in maintaining trails in more remote areas, using pack animals to transport tools and materials where motorized access isn’t possible.

These groups typically schedule regular work days during the snow-free months, with projects ranging from routine maintenance like clearing deadfall and trimming encroaching vegetation to more substantial improvements like building water bars to prevent erosion or constructing small bridges over stream crossings.

Citizen Science Projects

Volunteers also contribute to scientific understanding of the forest through citizen science initiatives that collect valuable data while engaging participants in meaningful conservation work:

• The annual Christmas Bird Count engages volunteers in documenting winter bird populations, contributing to one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the nation.
• Stream monitoring programs train volunteers to collect water quality data from forest streams, tracking parameters like temperature, clarity, and aquatic invertebrate populations that indicate ecosystem health.
• Wildflower monitoring projects document blooming times and locations, providing data on how climate change may be affecting plant phenology.
• Wildlife camera projects enlist volunteers in maintaining remote cameras and cataloging the resulting images, building understanding of wildlife distribution and behavior.

These citizen science opportunities provide valuable data for forest managers while offering participants hands-on engagement with scientific methods and deeper understanding of forest ecosystems.

Campground Hosts

One of the most visible volunteer roles in the forest is that of campground host. These dedicated individuals live on-site at campgrounds throughout the summer season, providing a welcoming presence and essential services for visitors.

Campground hosts typically commit to at least a month of service, receiving a free campsite in exchange for responsibilities that include:

• Greeting visitors and answering questions about the forest and surrounding attractions
• Performing light maintenance duties like litter pickup and restroom checks
• Communicating forest regulations and promoting Leave No Trace principles
• Reporting maintenance needs or emergencies to forest staff
• In some locations, collecting camping fees and maintaining occupancy records

Many hosts return year after year, developing deep knowledge of their campgrounds and building relationships with regular visitors. Their presence enhances the camping experience while providing valuable assistance to forest management.

Special Events

Throughout the year, special volunteer events bring together larger groups for focused conservation efforts:

• National Public Lands Day (late September) typically features volunteer projects like trail maintenance, habitat restoration, or facility improvements at sites throughout the forest.
• Earth Day events (April) often include tree planting, litter cleanup, or invasive species removal projects.
• National Trails Day (first Saturday in June) celebrates trails with maintenance projects and guided hikes highlighting volunteer accomplishments.

These events welcome one-time volunteers who may not be able to commit to ongoing programs, making conservation participation accessible to visitors and local residents alike. They typically combine work projects with educational components and social elements like picnics or cookouts.

For visitors interested in volunteering during their stay, the Forest Service website lists upcoming volunteer opportunities, or inquiries can be made at forest visitor centers. Even short-term visitors can contribute through “micro-volunteering” opportunities like trash pickup along trails or participation in simple citizen science data collection.

Interagency Cooperation

The complex mosaic of land ownership in the Black Hills region necessitates close cooperation between the Forest Service and numerous other agencies and organizations. These partnerships address challenges that cross jurisdictional boundaries and pool resources for more effective management.

Work with National Park Service

The Black Hills host several National Park Service (NPS) units, including Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Wind Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National Monument. These parks are essentially islands within or adjacent to the national forest, creating a need for coordinated management approaches.

Key areas of Forest Service-NPS cooperation include:

• Fire management, with joint response to wildfires that threaten both jurisdictions and coordination of prescribed burning programs to reduce fuel loads across boundaries.
• Wildlife management, particularly for species like elk and bison that move between park and forest lands. Coordinated monitoring programs track population health and movements.
• Visitor information services, with staff from both agencies cross-trained to provide accurate information about neighboring lands. The Black Hills Parks & Forests Association serves both agencies, further unifying the visitor experience.
• Trail connections that link forest and park trail systems, allowing hikers to move seamlessly between jurisdictions. The Centennial Trail, for example, passes through both Wind Cave National Park and Black Hills National Forest.

This cooperation extends to shared educational messaging, helping visitors understand how the different management approaches of national forests and national parks contribute to overall conservation of the Black Hills landscape.

State Agency Partnerships

State agencies in both South Dakota and Wyoming collaborate closely with the Forest Service on numerous initiatives:

• The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and Wyoming Game and Fish Department work with the Forest Service on wildlife management, including population monitoring, habitat improvement projects, and hunting regulations on forest lands.
• The South Dakota Wildland Fire Division and local fire departments coordinate with forest fire management staff on prevention, detection, and suppression of wildfires that threaten both public and private lands.
• State water quality agencies partner with the Forest Service on watershed protection initiatives, monitoring stream health and implementing projects to reduce erosion and sedimentation.
• The South Dakota Department of Transportation and Wyoming Department of Transportation coordinate with the Forest Service on scenic byways, wildlife crossings, and access improvements that affect forest visitors.

Custer State Park, managed by South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, shares boundaries with the national forest and participates in many cooperative projects, including wildlife management, fire response, and visitor services coordination.

Tribal Consultation

The Black Hills hold profound cultural and spiritual significance for several Native American tribes, particularly the Lakota (Sioux), Cheyenne, and Arapaho peoples. The Forest Service maintains government-to-government relationships with these sovereign tribal nations, consulting on management actions that might affect cultural resources or treaty rights.

This consultation process includes:

• Regular meetings with tribal historic preservation offices to discuss projects that might impact cultural sites
• Collaboration on identifying and protecting areas of special cultural significance
• Incorporation of traditional ecological knowledge into forest management practices where appropriate
• Accommodation of traditional cultural practices and ceremonial access to forest lands

The Forest Service also works with tribes on educational initiatives that accurately represent indigenous connections to the Black Hills in interpretive materials and programs, helping visitors understand the ongoing cultural significance of these lands.

Research Collaborations

Scientific research informs many aspects of forest management, and the Forest Service maintains active research partnerships with academic institutions and other organizations:

• South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Black Hills State University conduct research on forest ecology, hydrology, and geology, often involving students in field studies that provide both valuable data and hands-on educational experiences.
• The U.S. Geological Survey maintains monitoring stations throughout the forest, tracking water quality, streamflow, and other environmental parameters that inform management decisions.
• The Rocky Mountain Research Station, a Forest Service research unit, conducts long-term studies on forest health, fire ecology, and wildlife habitat in the Black Hills, translating scientific findings into management recommendations.

These research partnerships help forest managers adapt to changing conditions and incorporate the best available science into decision-making processes. They also provide opportunities for public engagement through citizen science initiatives and educational programs that share research findings with forest visitors.

Current Conservation Challenges

Despite decades of careful management and successful partnerships, Black Hills National Forest faces several significant conservation challenges that require ongoing attention and innovative approaches.

Forest Health Issues

The health of the forest ecosystem faces threats from both natural and human-influenced factors:

Mountain pine beetle outbreaks have periodically affected large areas of the forest. These native insects can reach epidemic levels under certain forest conditions, killing large numbers of pines. A major outbreak in the 2000s affected over 400,000 acres of the Black Hills. While such outbreaks are part of the natural cycle, their intensity and frequency may be influenced by forest density and climate factors.

The Forest Service and partners have responded with a multi-faceted approach including:

• Thinning dense stands to improve tree vigor and reduce susceptibility
• Targeted removal of infested trees to slow beetle spread
• Pheromone treatments to protect high-value trees in recreation areas
• Monitoring and early detection systems to identify new outbreak areas

White pine blister rust, an introduced fungal disease, threatens white spruce in the northern hills. This pathogen requires both pine trees and Ribes species (currants and gooseberries) to complete its life cycle. Management approaches include monitoring infection rates, removing Ribes plants near valuable spruce stands, and identifying potentially resistant trees.

Forest structure concerns relate to the age and density of forest stands. Historical fire suppression has created areas with unnaturally high tree density, increasing competition for water and nutrients and raising the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Ongoing thinning projects aim to create more resilient forest conditions with diverse age classes and appropriate density for local conditions.

Climate Change Impacts

Changing climate conditions present both immediate and long-term challenges for forest management:

• Drought stress is increasing with longer, hotter dry periods that weaken trees and make them more susceptible to insect attacks and disease.
• Changing fire regimes include longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior, requiring adjustments to fire management strategies and fuels reduction priorities.
• Shifting habitat conditions may affect the distribution of plant and animal species, with potential impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
• Hydrological changes could affect stream flows, wetlands, and water availability for both natural systems and human uses.

The Forest Service is addressing these challenges through climate adaptation strategies that include:

• Increasing forest resilience through management that promotes diverse species, age classes, and densities
• Expanding monitoring programs to track changes in vegetation, wildlife, and water resources
• Adjusting reforestation practices to account for future climate conditions
• Incorporating climate projections into long-term planning for infrastructure and recreation

Visitor Impact Management

The growing popularity of outdoor recreation creates challenges for maintaining both visitor experiences and resource protection:

• Trail impacts include erosion, widening, and vegetation loss on popular routes, requiring increased maintenance and occasionally trail redesign or temporary closures to allow recovery.
• Dispersed camping impacts are growing as more visitors seek experiences outside developed campgrounds, creating concerns about sanitation, vegetation damage, and wildlife disturbance in some areas.
• Crowding at popular destinations affects both visitor experience and resource conditions, particularly at scenic viewpoints, waterfalls, and swimming areas.
• User conflicts occasionally arise between different recreational activities, requiring careful management of multi-use trails and recreation areas.

Management approaches include visitor education about Leave No Trace principles, strategic improvements to high-use areas to make them more resistant to impacts, monitoring of emerging problem areas, and in some cases, permit systems or use limitations for particularly sensitive or popular locations.

Invasive Species

Non-native invasive species threaten both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the Black Hills:

• Noxious weeds like Canada thistle, leafy spurge, and spotted knapweed displace native plants and reduce habitat quality for wildlife. Control efforts include targeted herbicide application, biological control agents, and mechanical removal.
• Aquatic invasives such as zebra mussels threaten to enter forest waters from infected boats and equipment. Prevention focuses on education and inspection programs at boat launches.
• Emerald ash borer, while not yet detected in the Black Hills, poses a potential threat to green ash in riparian areas. Monitoring and early detection systems are in place.

Partnerships with state agencies, conservation districts, and volunteer groups are essential for addressing invasive species, as these organisms don’t respect jurisdictional boundaries. Public awareness campaigns help visitors understand how they can prevent spreading invasives through practices like cleaning boots, boats, and vehicles when moving between areas.

How Visitors Can Help

Every visitor to Black Hills National Forest has the opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts. Whether you’re planning a day trip or an extended stay, your choices and actions can help protect this special place for future generations.

Responsible Recreation Practices

The most immediate way visitors can support conservation is by practicing responsible recreation during their visit:

• Follow Leave No Trace principles:
  • Plan ahead and prepare to minimize situational impacts
  • Travel and camp on durable surfaces
  • Dispose of waste properly (pack it in, pack it out)
  • Leave what you find, whether rocks, plants, or artifacts
  • Minimize campfire impacts by using established fire rings and following current fire restrictions
  • Respect wildlife by observing from a distance and properly storing food
  • Be considerate of other visitors
• Stay on designated trails to prevent vegetation damage, soil erosion, and habitat fragmentation. Cutting switchbacks on hiking trails creates erosion channels that damage both the trail and surrounding environment.
• Respect closures and regulations, which are typically implemented to protect sensitive resources or ensure visitor safety.
• Properly store food and dispose of trash to avoid attracting wildlife to campgrounds and picnic areas. Animals that associate humans with food often become problems requiring management intervention.
• Clean gear between visits to different areas to prevent spreading invasive species. This includes brushing mud from boots, cleaning boat hulls and fishing equipment, and checking clothing for seed hitchhikers.

These practices not only minimize individual impact but collectively make a significant difference in maintaining the forest’s health and character.

Volunteer Opportunities

Visitors with more time to give can participate in organized volunteer activities:

• Single-day projects like trail maintenance workdays, cleanup events, or habitat improvement projects welcome volunteers without requiring long-term commitments. These are ideal for visitors spending several days in the area.
• Citizen science opportunities allow visitors to contribute to research and monitoring efforts during their forest explorations. Programs like wildlife observation reporting, stream quality monitoring, or invasive species spotting turn recreational activities into valuable data collection.
• Campground host positions offer longer-term volunteers (typically committing to at least a month) the chance to live in the forest while assisting with visitor services and light maintenance duties.

Information about current volunteer opportunities is available at forest visitor centers, on the Black Hills National Forest website, or through partner organizations like the Black Hills Parks & Forests Association.

Supporting Partner Organizations

Financial support for conservation partners extends the impact of a visit beyond the time spent in the forest:

• Shopping at Black Hills Parks & Forests Association bookstores directly supports education and conservation projects, as proceeds are reinvested in forest programs.
• Becoming a member of BHPFA or other conservation organizations working in the Black Hills provides ongoing support for their programs.
• Making targeted donations to specific projects or programs allows visitors to support aspects of forest conservation that align with their particular interests.
• Purchasing America the Beautiful passes (annual, senior, or other categories) helps fund maintenance and improvements on public lands nationwide, including Black Hills National Forest.

These financial contributions help sustain programs and projects that might otherwise go unfunded, from wildlife research to trail maintenance to educational exhibits.

Educational Programs

Participating in and supporting educational programs creates a more informed public that understands and values forest conservation:

• Attending ranger-led programs and events during your visit not only enhances your experience but also demonstrates public interest that helps justify continued funding for interpretive services.
• Sharing accurate information about forest conservation with friends, family, and social media followers extends educational reach beyond those who directly participate in programs.
• Supporting school programs that bring young people into the forest for educational experiences helps build the next generation of forest stewards.
• Providing feedback on educational materials and programs helps the Forest Service and partners continually improve their offerings.

Education creates the foundation for conservation by building understanding of forest ecosystems, management challenges, and the role of human choices in determining the forest’s future.

By combining responsible recreation practices with active support for conservation efforts, visitors become partners in protecting and enhancing Black Hills National Forest. Every positive action, no matter how small, contributes to the collective impact that keeps this remarkable landscape healthy and accessible for current and future generations.

Explore More About Black Hills National Forest

Ready to continue your exploration of Black Hills National Forest? Our detailed guides cover everything from historical context to practical advice for your visit:

• Black Hills National Forest: Your Complete Visitor Guide
• Historic Roots: The People and Events That Shaped Black Hills National Forest
• Scenic Highlights: Top Geological and Natural Features in Black Hills National Forest
• Camping, Cabins, and More: Where to Stay in Black Hills National Forest
• Hitting the Trails: Black Hills National Forest Hiking, Biking, and Scenic Drives
• Seasonal Adventures & Wildlife Watching in Black Hills National Forest
• Day Trips and Nearby Attractions: Exploring Beyond Black Hills National Forest