The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service awarded Miccosukee Corporation $585,316 under the Forest Health Protection program (CFDA 10.680) on September 22, 2025, with a completion date of September 21, 2030. This Project Grant enables the Miccosukee Tribe to increase Florida's capacity to detect, prevent, and eradicate invasive species—including insects, diseases, and invasive plants—across state, private, and tribal forestry lands, as well as National Forest System lands and research and development areas. The award aligns with the Forest Health Protection program's mandate to protect and manage non-federal forest and tree resources from damaging forest insects, disease-causing agents, and invasive plants through active management and monitoring initiatives.
As the administrative and operational arm of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, Miccosukee Corporation will serve as the direct-service provider for this initiative, building on the organization's established track record of implementing environmental grants across Florida's tribal and state lands. This five-year funding commitment represents part of the broader Forest Health Protection program effort, which typically supports state capacity building, detection surveys, field crew support, and species-specific management activities. The award positions Miccosukee to contribute to regional forest health protection priorities while strengthening invasive species management infrastructure across multiple land ownership categories in Florida.