The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Region (Region 8) awarded a Consolidated Payment Grant of $3.24 million to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry on September 19, 2025, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664). This five-year award, extending through September 18, 2030, supports cooperative forest management and conservation programs on state, private, and municipal forest lands throughout Louisiana. The grant facilitates partnership between the federal government and the state agency to establish shared priorities and implement management initiatives that enhance forest health on nonfederal lands while providing direct and indirect benefits to federal forests and the nation's forest resources.
The award enables Louisiana to advance forest resource stewardship across multiple management areas, including urban and community forestry, forest health protection, and state forest action plan implementation. Through this consolidated payment mechanism, the state agency coordinates with private landowners, rural communities, and local partners to promote sustainable forest management practices, strengthen local economies, and maintain environmental quality across Louisiana's forestry landscape.