he topic of collaboration across boundaries is ftting for me and for the Forest Service because our national priorities revolve around just that—collaboration across boundaries—especially when it comes to wildland fre. We are committed to improving the conditions of the Nation’s forests, being good neighbors, and sharing stewardship through partnerships, including with many of you here. My personal passion is connecting people with their natural resources— whether as partners, as volunteers, as homeowners, or just as citizens— and, as you know, there are plenty of opportunities for all that in the wildland–urban interface (WUI). Collaborating across boundaries goes to the core of the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy, especially when it comes to the WUI.