To improve habitat management through the recommendations of DNR's deer management assistance program (DMAP) forest habitat biologists

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) a $656,037.52 cooperative agreement under the Soil and Water Conservation program (CFDA 10.902) to improve habitat management through implementation of recommendations from WDNR's Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) Forest Habitat Biologists. The award, issued September 3, 2025, extends through December 31, 2028, and will be performed in Wisconsin.

Under this cooperative agreement, WDNR will deliver technical assistance and habitat management services informed by forest habitat expertise developed through its DMAP. The initiative supports sustainable land management practices aligned with NRCS conservation priorities, including habitat preservation and ecosystem sustainability. The funding will enable WDNR to provide professional conservation planning and technical assistance to private landowners, conservation districts, and other organizations in Wisconsin, leveraging the agency's specialized knowledge of forest habitat management to address natural resource conservation objectives across the state.