Michigan underserved landowner engagement

This federal Project Grant award of $500,000.00 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service's Inflation Reduction Act Landscape Scale Restoration program (CFDA 10.731) will support the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in engaging underserved private forest landowners across the state. The key objectives are to increase climate change adaptation, support forest health, and facilitate access to private environmental markets such as carbon offset and ecosystem services programs for historically marginalized landowners. The award, made on Aug 12, 2024, will fund cost-sharing, technical assistance, outreach, and education initiatives by the DNR's Finance and Operations Division over the project period ending on Apr 1, 2029. The DNR frequently collaborates with local governments, universities, nonprofits, and Native American tribes as sub-awardees to deliver its natural resource management programs supported by federal grants.