This project supports land management activities on state and private lands to implement state forest action plan priorities per statute

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R9-Eastern Region awarded the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry $787,509 on December 18, 2025, under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) to implement Ohio's State Forest Action Plan priorities on state and private lands through June 30, 2030.

The award funds hazardous fuels reduction, multi-resource forest management planning, invasive species mitigation, insect and disease management, and active forest management activities that support working forests. These activities target the approximately 115,000 private forest landowners managing 4.6 million acres across Ohio, with emphasis on improving forest health and productivity, reducing disease and insect spread, thinning fuels, and enabling timber and other economic production. Work is performed in Ohio.

The Cooperative Forestry Assistance program supports forest resources management and conservation on nonfederal forest and rural lands nationwide, working with states, private landowners, and partners to promote healthy forests and livable communities.

These plans guide the work of forestry professionals and directly support the health, productivity, and resilience of americas forests and trees. The cooperative forestry assistance act requires each state forestry agency to develop a statewide assessment and strategy for forest resources, collectively referred to as state forest action plan, to be eligible to receive funds under the authorities of the act. The infrastructure investment and jobs act funds the implementation of these state forest action plans which supports the 115,000 private forest landowners who own 4.6 million acres in ohio. With this grant, the state of ohio will use these funds to treat acres for hazardous fuels reduction, develop multi resource forest management plans, mitigate invasive species, insect infestation and disease, and other active forest management activities that support working forest, as determined by the priorities outlines in ohio's state forest action plan. Activities support the immediate expansion of american timber production by engaging private landowners in active management activities to improve the health and productivity of forests, reduce spread of disease and insects, thin fuels, and manage forests to produce timber and other economic benefits.