This federal Project Grant award of $460,154.00 from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service under the Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680) supports The Morton Arboretum, a non-profit organization, in establishing an infrastructure for using public gardens and arboreta as an early detection network for forest invasive plants in Illinois. The award commenced on January 17, 2025 and is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2029. The key products and services to be delivered under this grant include invasive species surveys, development of improved forest health monitoring technologies, and on-the-ground management actions to enhance forest resilience and ecosystem health across Illinois. The Morton Arboretum has an extensive history of partnering with federal agencies to advance urban and community forestry initiatives, invasive species management, and tree biology research. This grant award demonstrates the Arboretum's continued role as a prime and sub-awardee in delivering critical forest conservation and environmental stewardship projects.
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