The cross boundary wildfire hazard mitigation on non-federal lands program funds hazardous fuel reduction and mitigation activities close to national forest lands to reduce the undesired effects of…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 8 (Southern Region), awarded $450,000 to the Georgia Forestry Commission on August 7, 2025, under the State & Private Forestry Hazardous Fuel Reduction Program (CFDA 10.697). This five-year project grant, with a completion date of August 6, 2030, supports hazardous fuel reduction and mitigation activities on non-federal lands in Georgia adjacent to National Forest System lands. The Georgia Forestry Commission will implement cross-boundary wildfire hazard mitigation efforts designed to reduce the volume of hazardous fuels in forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands, thereby mitigating the risk of large, destructive wildfires and their undesired effects on communities and federal resources.

The grant supports the Commission's specialized expertise in forest management and wildfire mitigation to deliver landscape-scale fuel reduction treatments, which may include mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, vegetation management, and related restoration activities. As a state government agency based in Dry Branch, Georgia, the Commission brings substantial experience administering federal forest management programs and has previously received significant funding under multiple USDA Forest Service initiatives. This award represents an investment in restoring fire-adapted landscapes and strengthening community resilience against catastrophic wildfire threats across Georgia's wildland-urban interface and areas benefiting adjacent National Forest lands.

The cross boundary wildfire hazard mitigation on non-federal lands program funds hazardous fuel reduction and mitigation activities close to national forest lands to reduce the undesired effects of large, destructive wildfires by reducing the volume of hazardous fuels on forests, woodlands, shrublands, and grasslands.