The 2020 montana forest action plan identified 507,611 priority acres in the wildland urban interface in need of treatment to reduce wildfire risk to communities and 3.8 million acres in greatest need…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 1 (Northern Region), awarded $880,472.26 to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on August 14, 2025, with a completion date of July 31, 2030. This Project Grant supports implementation of Montana's 2020 Forest Action Plan by building state capacity to facilitate cross-boundary, collaborative forest management activities. The funding addresses the state's identified need to treat 507,611 priority acres in the wildland-urban interface to reduce wildfire risk to communities and an additional 3.8 million acres impacted by insects and disease, with resources provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The primary products and services delivered through this award include enhanced state-level forestry operations and technical assistance to support active, collaborative forest management across public and private lands. DNRC will leverage this funding to strengthen coordination mechanisms, convene multi-stakeholder partnerships, and provide guidance to landowners and communities in implementing forest health treatments and wildfire risk reduction activities. By funding state capacity building rather than direct on-the-ground implementation, the award aims to catalyze sustained, landscape-scale forest restoration efforts that improve forest health and community resilience across Montana's non-federal forest lands over the five-year performance period.

The 2020 montana forest action plan identified 507,611 priority acres in the wildland urban interface in need of treatment to reduce wildfire risk to communities and 3.8 million acres in greatest need of attention when insects and disease impacts are considered. Federal funding for state forest action plan implementation provided by the infrastructure investment and jobs act will prioritize addressing the need for additional state capacity to effectively facilitate cross-boundary, collaborative, active management to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk.