This consolidated payment grant will be used to increase active management for healthy and productive forests and reduce wildfire risk

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Region 9 – Eastern Region, awarded the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation a $2,953,736 project grant under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance program (CFDA 10.664) on August 29, 2025, with performance extending through June 30, 2030. This consolidated payments grant funds four integrated forestry and fire capacity programs: the Forest Stewardship Program, which provides technical assistance and education to private forest landowners for sustainable forest management; the Urban and Community Forestry Program, which delivers financial and technical support for community tree planting, maintenance, and protection initiatives; the State Fire Capacity Program, which addresses wildfire preparedness, hazardous fuels reduction, and firefighter training on non-federal lands; and the Volunteer Fire Capacity Program, which equips and trains volunteer fire departments in rural communities with populations under 10,000.

Collectively, these programs advance the federal objective of increasing active forest management, reducing wildfire risk, and enhancing community resilience across Massachusetts non-federal forest lands. The State Fire Capacity Program component specifically targets critical preparedness needs including firefighter safety, initial attack capability, and mobilization capacity for efficient wildfire suppression and prevention. Through this award, Massachusetts will deliver on-the-ground forest health improvements, community-based forestry planning and implementation, and enhanced rural and volunteer fire department capacity across the Commonwealth's non-federal forestlands and rural communities.

Consolidated payments grant consists of annually appropriated, base funds to the state forestry agency for programs including the forest stewardship program, urban and community forestry program, state fire capacity program, and volunteer fire capacity program. The forest stewardship program provides funding for assisting, educating, and inspiring forest landowners to actively manage their forests and related resources sustainably. The urban and community forestry program provides financial, technical, educational and related assistance for communities to plan urban forestry programs and to plant, protect, maintain, and utilize wood from community trees and forests. The state fire capacity program addresses critical state affiliated preparedness needs, community mitigation, and hazardous fuels. Critical preparedness needs include firefighter safety, fire planning, firefighter training, increased and enhanced initial attack capability, and mobilization capacity and readiness for the efficient suppression and prevention of wildfires on non-federal forest lands and other non-federal lands. The volunteer fire capacity program funding provides financial, technical, and other assistance through state forestry agencies to organize, equip, and train small, local volunteer fire departments in rural communities with populations under 10,000 to prevent and suppress rural fires.