The forest stewards guild (guild) will partner with the national park service (NPS) to increase resiliency at sleeping bear dunes national lakeshore

The National Park Service (NPS) awarded a $716,156.96 Cooperative Agreement to The Forest Stewards Guild (the Guild) under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) federal grant program. The purpose of the 5-year agreement, which commenced on October 1, 2024, is for the Guild to partner with NPS to increase forest resiliency at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Guild will coordinate and support the implementation of planning and restoration treatments at several sites on the NPS unit, with the common goal of improving forest resilience and reversing trajectories leading to regeneration failures of native tree and shrub species. This will be accomplished through site visits, tactical plan development, and on-the-ground treatments targeting issues such as overstocking, non-native pest outbreaks, invasive vegetation, herbivory, and natural disturbances. The restoration efforts are expected to enhance forest resilience at important natural and cultural sites, help train new practitioners, and grow the regional workforce to address this critical work.

The guild will coordinate and support the implementation of planning and restoration treatments at several sites on the NPS unit over a five year period. The common goal across all sites is to improve forest resilience and reverse trajectories leading to regeneration failures of native tree and shrub species due to some combination of overstocking non native pest outbreaks invasive vegetation herbivory and natural disturbance. Site visits tactical plan development and on the ground treatments will occur as part of this agreement to address these issues. The guild will accomplish this work through internal staff and by partnering with local businesses. The restoration efforts at multiple sites will enhance forest resilience at important natural and cultural sites help train new practitioners and grow the regional workforce to address this critical work.