Infrastructure investment and jobs act invasive species grant program supports on-the-ground response to the nation s significant invasive species problem by providing funding for integrated pest…

The Montana Department of Agriculture received a $103,001 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Region 1 (Northern Region) under the Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680), awarded September 10, 2025, with a completion date of August 31, 2030. This grant supports integrated pest management (IPM) activities to address invasive species threats across non-federal and federal lands in Montana. The funded activities focus on detecting, monitoring, and implementing control treatments for invasive forest insects, diseases, and plants that threaten forest health and increase wildfire risk.

Deliverables under this multi-year award are designed to advance multiple forest management objectives, including reducing wildfire hazards through decreased tree mortality and invasive plant proliferation, maintaining timber productivity and forest quality, preserving forest aesthetics for recreation, and enhancing public safety by mitigating hazard trees. The extended project timeline through 2030 accommodates treatment windows and staffing requirements necessary for comprehensive forest health management across Montana's forestlands, consistent with national active forest management priorities.

Infrastructure investment and jobs act invasive species grant program supports on-the-ground response to the nation s significant invasive species problem by providing funding for integrated pest management on non-federal and federal land. This grant program supports active management actions across three deputy areas: state, private and tribal forestry (non-federal land investments); national forest system (federal land investments); and research and development. Deliverables from this grant program endeavors to address agency priorities to reduce wildfire by decreasing tree mortality/decline and highly flammable invasive plants, increase timber production by improving and maintaining forest health to maximize the quantity and quality of sawlogs, provide for recreation by minimizing decline in forest aesthetics, and increase safety by minimizing hazard trees. The program is consistent with the national active forest management priorities. This is a multi-year project as treatments can't all be accomplished in a single-year due to forest threat treatment windows and staffing limitations.