The goals of this project is to support efforts to prevent the accidental introduction or spread of exotic forest insects and pathogens and develop integrated pest management strategies for control,…

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL Fire) received a $505,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 5 (Pacific Southwest Region) under the Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680), awarded August 28, 2025, with completion targeted for August 1, 2030. The grant supports CAL Fire's efforts to prevent the accidental introduction and spread of exotic forest insects and pathogens while developing and implementing integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for controlling, suppressing, and monitoring both established introduced pests and native forest pests across California.

CAL Fire is executing this initiative through three sub-award partners: the University of California Division of Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR) is conducting Mediterranean Oak Borer outreach and education activities and leading regional coordination, outreach, and response efforts for invasive tree pests in Southern California; University of California, Davis is supporting forest health and active management initiatives on California forest lands; and the California Invasive Plant Council is developing and training fire risk ratings for invasive plants. These collaborative efforts combine research, extension education, technical assistance, and practical management activities to address forest health threats through detection, monitoring, prevention, and suppression treatments aligned with the program's objectives of protecting non-federal and federal forest resources.

The goals of this project is to support efforts to prevent the accidental introduction or spread of exotic forest insects and pathogens and develop integrated pest management strategies for control, suppression and monitoring of established introduced insects and pathogens as well as native forest pests.